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'Doctors, nurses' statements on war casualties have angered Libyans' - Josie Muscat
Practioner turned health entrepreneur Josie Muscat says that statements made by doctors and nurses unions over the recovery of Libyan casualties of war, has triggered anger among Libyans who are expressing doubts on the Maltese real intentions to treat casualties.
16 October 2011, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
In an extensive interview with MaltaToday, St. James Hospital chairman Josie Muscat hits out at the medical association and the nurses union for their statements about the Libyan casualties, and reveals how in doctors in Misurata are accusing the Maltese of “choosing” the injured.
In a lengthy interview where he speaks about Libya, Josie Muscat steered away from talking about the cost of the treatment he is giving to Libyans soon after they are discharged from Mater Dei Hospital's ITU. But launches an attack on government, MAM and MUMN.
“I believe that government was correct to offer medical help to the Libyans, but why is it that this country always forgets its size and limitations? We have a limited number of beds at ITU, and we cannot forget that...
“Last week I had to patiently explain to high officials in Misurata, that we are accepting casualties according to what we can offer, after they accused us that we were conveniently choosing patients.”
“I had to explain the ITU limitations at Mater Dei, and our economies of scale until they understood, but many still are not looking at us in a good light...”
“As for MAM, an MUMN, I find it utterly disgusting and shameful for professional bodies to speak out in a way that the message they sent out was one that triggered a wave of protest for having Libyan casualties in Malta.”
Muscat – who insists that his efforts so far are humanitarian – says that it also remains unknown who will eventually foot the bill for the medical care being granted to Libyan casualties.
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Wow - good thing there is no Libyan investment in St James eh Josie? Those wikileak reports were all wrong ... tut tut ...
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Another big U turn from an ex nationalist. Good for the unions for charity begins at home.
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What about the social cases from Mater Dei which transferred to Saint James? Is it true they are being kept in a makeshift ward underground and in appalling conditions while these Libyans are being kept in some of the best rooms? Yeah I'm sure Saint James is taking care of the Libyans out of generosity
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Algan the Medical unions had been saying it for years. This hospital is too small (its actually smaller then St Lukes) to take care of the locals in a minor crisis (ex flu) let alone cater for a civil war. Unfortunately the government had never listened to their plea. I guess we all agree that if you have a hospital of lets say 400 beds you can't take 2000 people in it can't you?
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This problem was created by the government instead of initially calling for a hospital ship or hosipital tent by the main powers - US, Britain and France as well as Italy. Not little Malta who can barely handle it's current load of patients.
Raymond Falzon •
I bet they angered his bank manager as well.
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Is this the same person who was the chairman of a small political left wing party? Their main issue was against illegal immigrants!!! How people change???????? Not only GonziPN is thinking that we are idiots, but even people who were linked to it in the past! Just a bunch of hypocrits!
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Josie should lead by example and open his St James hospitals for free to all the Libyans if he loves them so much!
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Josie must have forgotten his days as the creator of FFF(666) the Front Freedom Fighters, during the years when a Palestinian Embassy was considered as one run by terrorits according to the PN.
Let's not forget that Aisha Gadaffi has or had a stake in one of Malta's private health concerns shouldn't that concern show more concern to the wounded Libyans whose money had been pumped their way?
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@Algan. you are showing that you do not know the situation in Mater Dei. MUMN was only defending the rights of the Maltese patient. Try to spend 20 or 40 hours on a stretcher before opening your mouth. With regards to Josie, his only interest was and is money only! Why don't he tell us how many nuses resigned from his hospital lately and for what reason?!
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Weren't the Libyans angered by the statements made by the PN in the 70's and 80's? And weren't they angered when many PN activists used to use the slogan during the EU referendum campaign, 'if Malta doesn't join the EU, with whom shall we join, with the Libyans?'
Just in case they forgot these statements, they must seek treatment for dimentia as well! The PN always look towards the Libyans, as people of lower class, and now they are doing the utmost to get some good financial deal for the 'humanitarian help' that the government is giving, in order tp try and tackle the exagerted deficit that Malta has got. Maybe they will struck a good deal for buying oil, and I'm sure that they will make it public just before the next general election!
They ( the Libyans) shouldn't be angered at all. It's a fact that many Maltese citizens are kicked out of hospital due to lack of space. Do they accept this treatment if it was the other way round?
On the other hand I'm pleased that many Maltese are lending a hand to our neighbours,that helped us before on many occasions, and ignoring what this government has got in mind!
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They were being treated as a PR excercise,with the thought of all that filthy lucre droping our way once the war is over and well does josie and everyone else know it. Stop being hypocrites.
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I am disgusted by the attitude of our unions who showed complete insensitivity, lack of solidarity and lack of foresight for here was an opportunity to promote Malta as medical and humanitarian centre which is equipped and cares for patients. Medical tourism is big business in Jordan and Hungary. I am sure the last place Libyans will from now on, contrary to what they did in the past , seek private medical help will be in Malta for by our own admission we declared to the whole world that cannot cope with even a dozen critically injured patients. If this is a state of fact we should be also seriously concerned for if ever a serious incident had to happen locally like the recent explosion in Cyprus or some major earthquake close to our shore than we are openly declaring we are not able to cope.
But then perhaps coming here and clearly declaring a preference for private treatment will work miracles with our medical and paramedical staff for as we Maltese already well know that is the way to get quick local medical treatment.
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Miracles never cease to happen. Dr. Josie Muscat defending the Lybians, fancy that. But since their is a buck to be make no problem; as they say you don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
As regards the MAM and MUM statements there message is clear and simple. Mater Dei can't cope with the number of Maltese patients. How can we house the Lybians when we don't have enough for our own. Dr. Muscat should keep his mouth shut and just enjoy the windfall he is making. I believe Dr. Muscat is a classical example of the Italian saying 'NON TUTTO IL MALE VIENE A NUOCERE'
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Who ever said that there where any doubts on the Maltese Government for the real intentions to treat the Libyans casualties !!
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Dr Josie Muscat will do well to protect his (financial) interests but should refrain immediately from shamelessly and arrogantly criticizing the unions whose interest is to protect the medical and para medical professions.
This is our new Malta, unfortunately where MONEY AND POWER ARE GOD.
So much for humanitarian principles...come on Dr. Josie, pull the other one!
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Dr Muscat, remember that charity begins at home!
How can we take foreigners when our house is not yet in order!
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That what happens when big mouthed politicians try to score political points and offer what they cannot provide.
It was careless of our government to offer medical halp when our resources are limited and there are bigger countries with vested interests who could have offered the same but did not.
I believe a few months back the government was blurting that Malta had reached an agreement about treatment of Libyan casualties with Qatar, if I am not mistaken, and nothing came of it except we heard that Qatar had supplied €2.5 millino in medicins to Libya (Lm 600,000) and Malta was settled with a matter that it cannot handle.
That is what results from political negotiations were the party's interests are more important than that of the countriers.
The sooner gonzi calls for elections the better gonziPN has long passed its use by date.
PN is dead long live gonziPN
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Josie should have opened St. James Hospital and Capua hospital and his Tripoli clinic for free. It is so blatent he has a vested interest in Libja. The Doctors and Nurses quite rightly voiced theri concerns because the new state of the art hospital is incapable of catering for us Maltese
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Maybe we should have moved all the local patients into tents and caves so that we can appease our Libyan masters better. The dinar should take precedence on everything and everyone on this island.
