Labour Party pledges new outpatient department at Mater Dei Hospital
● Tax credit for private health insurance
The Labour Party yesterday announced that a PL government will construct an Outpatients Department at Mater Dei Hospital.
Addressing the press conference at Mater Dei Hospital, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that beneath it, a five-storey car park will be built with one floor used for public transport.
The Minister said that the PL was pledging that healthcare would remain free of charge. He repeated a number of proposals made by the the Prime Minister the day before, including the construction of an acute mental health hospital near Mater Dei Hospital, the construction of a Mother and Child Hospital that would see the creation of some 230 beds, and the construction of three new primary healthcare centres in Kirkop, Paola and another up north.
On Mount Carmel, he said that it will be refurbished to provide better care.
He said that the construction of the new hospitals will result in more jobs for doctors, nurses, therapists, etc.
Mr Fearne also said anyone paying for private health insurance would receive a tax credit or rebate. This would help ease pressure off public hospitals, he said.
The Prime Minister also addressed the press conference and mentioned an agreement with EU countries regarding healthcare, which will make it better for EU countries purchasing medicines.
He criticised the last government for allowing other hospitals around the islands to deteriorate. He spoke of the reduction in waiting lists and the end of outof-stock medicines.
“Healthcare has changed from being stuck in the past, and in four years we have made it ready for the future. We are doing all this so that future generations will look back and say that those who came before them planned well for the future.”
He also spoke of the patients charter, and spoke of more rights for patients.