Suffering patients used as political pawns
A report tabled in Parliament by Health Minister Chris Fearne, following parliamentary questions by PN MP Ċensu Galea, rings sufficient alarm bells on the increase in the number of people suffering from some form of cancer. According to the report, which bases its methodology on the World Adjusted Standardised Rate, the number of cancer patients in Malta between 2010 and 2015 rose by an alarming 1,908.
One cannot place the blame on our health authorities for this surge in cancer cases because Malta stands out as one of the countries with adequate pre-condition diagnosis and successful treatments thanks to the hefty investment in the oncology sector, primarily by the previous administration but sustained by the present one. More so, the rate of cancer has surged worldwide, not only in Malta, which goes to show that lifestyle habits and pollution are the main cause of the problem.
Although the national statistics show that we stand below the EU average as regards lung cancer, we cannot relax our battle against smoking. Coupled with that is the high incidence in particulate matter on our streets, in our crops and our water from fuel residue. When one considers the massive investment required each year from public funds to treat
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cancer and add to it unaccounted donations aimed at families to help them cope with treatment from voluntary organisations, such as the Malta Community Chest Fund, Puttinu Cares and the Hospice Movement, just to mention a few, the temptation is to ban cigarettes and fossil fuels for good. But we know the world doesn’t work that way and should that decision be taken by any government, it would surely send the country in chaos.
The way forward is undoubtedly to educate and invest in preventive care while sustaining treatment. Unfortunately, though we can never be satisfied with the amount of educational campaigns, this newspaper expects more from the authorities in this regard. Cancer treatment is a very sensitive issue that is most probably prevalent in each and every Maltese family. One expects a more aggressive approach by the state to educate the nation at a time when we are celebrating the first surplus in our finances after thirty-six years. The obvious thing to do at this juncture is to increase the prevention budgets to reach as many more people as possible. Undoubtedly the country needs a stronger communications strategy vis-à-vis cancer prevention and treatment.
On the other hand, what the country definitely doesn’t need is for our politicians to drag cancer into the political fray. Using people’s emotions and vulnerability on cancer related issues to score political points or achieve a party’s goal are deplorable and shouldn’t happen again. The PL’s 2013 electoral campaign in which it was claimed that a new gas-fired power-station and the conversion of the heavy fuel oil dependent BWSC power plant will rid the south from the ‘PN cancer factory’ was insensitive and downright cruel.
The report presented last week in Parliament by Minister Fearne debunks this myth and spells its malicious spin doctoring. The report states that between 2010 and 2015 those suffering with cancer hailed mostly from Mosta and Qormi. To add insult to injury, those least suffering from cancer live in Kirkop, the closest to Delimara out of the three localities.
The public expects our political class to work hand in hand on health matters, but most of all, we demand that sensitive health issues such as cancer patients are not used by any political party for partisan gain. Now that we’re drawing closer to a general election we expect all political parties to resist the temptation to use the demise of suffering patients as political pawns.