No emergency patients not helped due to payment issues - MDH
A spokesperson for the health ministry has confirmed that management at Mater Dei Hospital is not aware of any emergency patients being refused help because of payment issues.
A couple has filed a claim in court alleging that a baby died in the mother’s womb because staff at the hospital were more concerned about dealing with payment issues for the non-EU father.
“Mater Dei Hospital’s position and internal policies on the subject are clear. In cases of emergency, patients are first treated and then the paperwork is dealt with. In cases of elective/scheduled appointments, the entitlement status of the individual is clarified before the appointment is processed,” the spokesperson said.
She explained that EU nationals treated at public heath facilities require a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), those working in Malta require proof of NI contributions, individuals married to Maltese require a marriage certificate, while British nationals living in Malta need either proof of NI contributions or a reciprocal health agreement card or a certificate of entitlement.
The Malta Independent, however, reported that the law detailing who should be paying for healthcare in Malta and the fees that apply to patients who are not entitled to free healthcare is not clear and is being interpreted differently, according to NAO audit reports.
Also, according to the law, and with respect to a reply to a parliamentary question asked by PD MP Godfrey Farrugia to Health Minister Chris Fearne, there are a number of provisos which entitle foreign patients to free healthcare.
System knowing whether patients entitled to free healthcare ready by end of year
As things stand, those without a Maltese ID card have to present documentation to prove their entitlement because so far there is no electronic system in place that checks the NI contributions of patients.
A system to facilitate the entitlement verification process across all health entities is in the pipeline and should be rolled out by end of the year, the spokesperson noted.
How the current system for foreign patients works
“A system to facilitate the entitlement verification process across all health entities is in the pipeline and should be rolled out by end of the year
Since 2017, a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) has been in place for all departments at Mater Dei Hospital, except for the accident and emergency department.
The purpose of the SOP is to ensure that free medical care is only provided to those entitled.
The SOP indicates that only persons holding a Maltese ID card ending with letters M, G, L, H, P or C are automatically entitled to immediate free medical care. All other persons are considered foreign patients.
These foreign patients may be liable to hospital fees in accordance with the law.
Upon receipt of a referral ticket by the booking office or any clinic, the ID card number is checked. If it does not end in the letters mentioned, for example ending in A, or a passport number is written, the referral ticket is sent to the billing office for verification of entitlement.
The billing office then checks the patient’s status: they will either be entitled to free medical care or will be asked to pay.
If the patient is entitled to free medical care, an administrative process is carried out and an appointment can be made.
If the patient is a paying one, they will be informed of the fee (the first visit is always a new consultation and the patient is charged for that) and asked to pay before an appointment is made. When the patient pays and is given a receipt, an other administrative process follows.
If after the first consultation at the Outpatient Department the consultant orders further investigations or treatment, the department receiving the request must go through a process similar to that described above.