Convergence on healthcare
Prime Minister, Robert Abela, earlier this week said that discussions related to healthcare in the Maltese Islands must aim to result in “national convergence”, particularly with experts.
Healthcare affects the whole country, it requires long-term planning. As such, the Prime Minister saying that the aim is for there to be national convergence, even with the Opposition, is most welcome.
The country went through a trauma due to a bad decision regarding the healthcare sector. Here we are, of course, referring to the infamous hospitals deal signed by Joseph Muscat’s Government.
The deal was last year rescinded by the courts in a damning judgement. The case had been filed by PN MP Adrian Delia, when he was Opposition Leader. The decision was also confirmed on appeal. The first judgement had mentioned fraud, and the appeals judgement had then mentioned collusion.
Muscat, when asked by The Malta Independent earlier this week whether he regrets his decision to make a deal with VGH, said that, “After, we took measures for everything to pass on to Steward
Health Care. My regret is that there was a lot of pressure from different forces not to let the agreement be implemented.” It is not surprising that he would take such an approach when answering about one of the two major projects under his tenure, but the deal utterly failed - milestones were missed, VGH lacked healthcare management experience, Steward Health Care failed to make an impact, St Luke’s is still in an abandoned state. The court judgements were absolutely damning.
To make matters worse, the country needs more hospital space, yet so many years were wasted because of the hospitals deal. That is on him.
Muscat also said that, “any Government will realise that they will need the private sector, and that the healthcare system as it is today - whether there is need for a new hospital or more private sector interventions - the system needs to change as it is not sustainable.”
There is indeed need for investment in the healthcare system, there is no doubt about that. Malta has always been proud of its doctors and nurses, and this hasn’t changed, but there is a need for more hospital space. But the country cannot afford another debacle like the hospitals deal. If any deal with the private sector is to be made in the future, both the Government and the Opposition must absolutely both be in favour of it. There must be agreement
We cannot have our healthcare system played around with again in the way that it was.
Abela said that a “mature discussion” needs to occur in order to see what is to be done with Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and what the investment for the Gozo General Hospital is going to consist of. For these projects, he added that debate must commence soon, as well as the beginning of action to be taken.
The Prime Minister’s statement, that there should be convergence, and when he said that “every large medical project that is to be proposed in this country, I believe must be approved by the medical community” are welcome. Consensus between the two major political parties on major healthcare projects is a must.