State provision of contraceptives: PN health speaker calls for study on effects on society

Parliamentary Secretary Deo Debattista, a GP by profession, expresses support while calling Europe’s abortion rates ‘a failure of good access to contraception’

Helena Grech Nationalist Party Shadow Health Minister Stephen Spiteri would not express his support for providing free contraceptives without an “independent study on birth-control measures as contraceptives and how these will affect our society in 15 or 20 years’ time”.

Last week, The Malta Independent on Sunday published equality minister Helena Dalli’s views on the state provision of contraception or, at the very least, for people on a low-income through means-testing, for which she expressed her support.

The Women’s Rights Foundation has also issued a set of recommendations, which include the elimi- nation of practical, financial and legal restrictions on the provision of contraceptives, especially for young people and those on low income.

“Subsidising contraception should be considered as a public health investment and should be extended to cover all brands and methods of modern contraception. Requirements for third-party authorisation that impede access to contraception for adolescents under the age of 16 should be removed,” the WRF wrote in its recommendations.

Health Minister Chris Fearne was also asked for his opinion, but he failed to reply to the line of questioning.

This newsroom asked the PN for its views, as well as the personal opinion of its leader, Adrian Delia.

PN health speaker says decision cannot be made ‘hastily’

A spokesperson replied with a statement issued by its shadow speaker, Stephen Spiteri: “The Nationalist Party is open to hear the people and discuss in the Parliamentary Group all issues that are brought forward.

“Indeed the first thing should be an independent study on birth control measures as contraceptives and how these will affect our soci- ety in 15 or 20 years’ time. This is not a decision that can be taken hastily and not backed with statistics.

“The National Party is still in favour of contraceptives as a means to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.”

The reply could therefore be interpreted as the PN’s hesitance to take a stance on the use of contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies without a study analysing its “effects on society”.

Pressed on what Delia’s personal views on the matter are, and whether he echoes his health spokesperson’s sentiments, the spokesperson replied:

“I can give the position on the subject direct from the spokesperson concerned. If this gets to a national discussion or priority the party will formulate a position with the input of everyone including Dr Delia’s.”

A recent survey found that the vast majority of Maltese are in favour of the blanket ban on abortion. Therefore, arguments have been made that improving access to contraceptives across the board could reduce the number of Maltese women travelling overseas for abortions and reduce unwanted pregnancies in the first place. This would especially benefit low-income women who are the hardest hit by an unexpected pregnancy.

PS Deo Debattista calls for a contraceptive programme focusing on accessibility and education

Parliamentary Secretary for consumer protection and Valletta 2018, Deo Debattista, who is also a General Practitioner (GP) by profession, expressed his views in favour of free contraception, provided that the methods used are not abortifacient.

“Over and above providing free contraceptives, we should be wellinformed and educated about it.”

He stressed his belief that the commonly-used birth-control pill should be provided free.

Asked how he felt on the subject of whether or not people should be means-tested before being given access to free contraceptives, Debattista turned to the issue of education, saying: “The more education there is, the fewer problems there will be later.”

He also said that “the rate of abortions in Europe is a result of not having a good contraception programme focusing on accessibility and education. If you have a good contraception programme, you are not going to have these problems.

“With oral contraceptives you have 99.9 per cent safety. If used well, and administered correctly to the right patients, there will be added safety.”

On the religious aspect of the debate, Debattista said that ultimately the ‘billings’ method (a natural form of family planning) is used by people who do not intend to become pregnant.

“Apart from it not being a safe method, oral contraceptives have the same aim but work much more efficiently.

“I think we should have a very good contraceptive programme, both with regard to education and availability. I don’t think we should have a limit on the availability of free contraceptives as long as they are not abortifacient, because we are against abortion and pro-life.”

Asked about the role of contraceptives and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STI), Debattista clarified that he is in favour of free hormonal contraceptives and physical barriers such as condoms.

“Many times these physical barriers are important because you will not only be preventing pregnancy but also sicknesses – not only HIV but things such as warts. Today we also know that herpes virus can give you cervical cancer, so when you are using a good contraceptive you are protecting yourself against both.”