Minister breaks down in tears as he recounts difficulty of leaving private practice

An emotional Godfrey Farrugia made no attempt at hiding his feelings when he admitted that the most difficult part of his appointment as minister had been saying goodbye to his patients.

The Health Minister recounted how difficult it had been to "settle out" of his old job, while expressing his disappointment at the way he was "tainted" by media reports that claimed he was still attending to his private patients.

"I can assure you that when I was meeting my patients, never once did I open my briefcase. The most difficult part was losing the contact I had with them. But as a minister I know that my responsibility is now Malta and Gozo and I am committed and will work hard to fulfill is responsibility," Farrugia said. "This is my mission and we will deliver."

Farrguia left the press speechless as he recounted overhearing two children calling out his name on Freedom Day: "When I went over to say hi, the two turned towards their grandparents and told them 'you see, Godfrey is still here'," a tearful Farrugia said.

The minster was replying to questions by the media over the 'limited waiver' given to parliamentary secretary and ophthalmic surgeon Franco Mercieca to conduct his private practice, and whether he felt he had been treated differently. But echoing statements by Joseph Muscat, Godfrey Farrugia said Mercieca's specialisation set him apart.

"With no disrespect to other ophthalmologists, I believe Mercieca is the 'king' in what he does. He has contributed a lot to the sector and if practicing is the way how he remains hands on, then so be it," Farrugia said.

During a meeting with the Malta Health Network in his office at the Emergency Department, Farrugia also announced that he had already commissioned the charter for patients' rights, an electoral pledge of the PL during the 2013 elections.

Such rights include the patients' rights for full information, the right of an informed consent; the right for quality service; the right for privacy and confidentiality; being responsible towards the service and healthcare; the right of receiving care which was of quality standards and the right of complain.

Another electoral pledge, Farrugia said a scientific study will be carried out in the future to set the parameters by which patients on waiting list could have their operations carried out privately at government's expense.

"It is an elaborate process requiring studies, checks and balances but most of all making it sustainable. It will be a challenge but will be carried out during these five years," he said.