Casa calls for changes in informal medical care

During a debate at the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg discussing the impact of the economic crisis on vulnerable groups, David Casa called for increased attention to informal care.

"Informal carers are an important part of our society, especially in Malta, where many give up remunerated work in order to care for loved ones. The work done by these persons should be recognised by the state, and frameworks established so that work done by these care-givers is taken into account with regard pension eligibility and other benefits," said MEP Casa.

Casa pointed out that as "social services are only as strong as the underlying economy that funds them. Therefore a balance must be struck between providing social services that are adequate while ensuring fiscal discipline and economic sustainability.

"Research consistently shows that informal care is often a more efficient way to provide services, providing higher quality at lower expense. Yet many member states lack provisions to support informal carers, and there is very little European-level standardisation."

Malta, like most of the European Union, faces a demographic future in which more elderly persons will require long-term care.

This, according to Casa, is exactly the kind of circumstance that calls for more informal care. "The strongest bonds in our society are those of family. When a person is in long-term care of any sort, formal or informal, their family expends significant time and effort taking care of them. They are attuned to the daily needs of the patient - their loved one.

"Should there be an emergency, they are the first to know and the first to respond. Rather than overlook these bonds, an informal care strategy recognizes that family members are actually in the best position to provide routine care. It provides them with the financial resources and knowledge to do so with maximum effectiveness."

During the speech, Casa mentioned that informal care already plays a major role in Malta. However, after the speech he explained that the Maltese government still has much it can do on a national level.

"Informal care plays a huge role in Maltese society, due to Maltese tradition and the role of the family. However, informal care-givers in Malta still face significant struggles: they bare a financial burden, dedicate significant amounts of time, and report that they often don't know where to turn for official assistance. In addition to granting financial assistance, Malta and other European countries should establish Points of Contact for caregivers. Knowledge is almost costless to provide, but can make a huge difference."

As a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Casa will push for a European effort to support informal care. In the meantime, his ongoing projects include dossiers on state of the retail sector and European energy strategy, and his duties as a member of the delegation to Turkey.