A report by the Ministry of Health back in 2004 lamely suggested that one should consider looking at the cost of free health and consider putting a price to certain cost.
The “secret”, penned by an overzealous civil servant, has given Sant his biggest weapon so far. It exploded like a bombshell, ripping through the PN trenches, blasting open the sewers and unsettling the troops.
The revelation brought to the forefront that the idea had been floated in the cabinet of ministers. This was hotly denied by Gonzi.
But the report brandished by Sant yesterday said: “The Cabinet has agreed in principle to this concept, but fees for Maltese citizens will not be introduced for the moment...”
It is an embarrassing revelation that should perhaps serve as a warning to politicians you can hide part the truth, but you cannot bury all of it.
Gonzi’s solemn oath that he had never discussed the matter was so categorical that Labour led him down the garden path into a field of spiky nettles. They relished every minute of the ambush.
Gonzi could have said earlier on in the campaign, during question time, that many proposals are put forward in Cabinet; but that this does not mean they are accepted. Indeed Sant has also opined in the same way.
But what is good for Sant, is not good for Gonzi.
The report went on: “ ... but fees for Maltese citizens will not be introduced for the moment due to their political underpinnings. From other countries’ experiences, these co-payments amount to between 3% and 5% of public health expenditure.”
Now the word “underpinning” is a word only a civil servant could have used; it does not mean what the stuffy civil servant wished it to mean. But we all understood what he meant. He meant, if you introduce a cost, you are basically f**** politically.
Well, only if you do the wrong way!
But as things turned out, the whole report has not exactly helped Gonzi, at least for the next 24 hours. And in politics 24 hours is a very long time. Too short, perhaps, for Xarabank to sweep it under the carpet; but anyway, long enough.
There is a little bit of albumin on Gonzi’s face. And Alfred Sant is smiling, at least this time.
Gonzi said that the proposal was never discussed in Cabinet, and was refused by the Cabinet Social Committee – then why did the paper refer to the fact that Cabinet had agreed in principle?
This is not good!
The biggest mistake in my opinion was the sombre declaration by Lawrence Gonzi, the political leader of a centre right party, to categorically state that there WILL ALWAYS BE FREE health. Sant is saying the same, even though in his short tenure as Prime Minister he introduced charges for certain services. Charges which were ferociously criticised by the PN when in opposition. A stupid error, in my opinion.
It was a fundamental mistake for the PN to have attacked Sant on this. Now, Sant is dead scared to even suggest putting a price on certain services. At least he is petrified of saying so before an election; afterwards is a completely different matter.
What has happened in the last hours is perhaps bad news for Gonzi but worse for the future of that very famous slogan concocted, or rather copied, by John C, Grech that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Surely we can all agree, but how can anyone in today’s world continue to argue that everything is free forever? Apart from the fact that anyone who experience serious illness knows all too well, that not everything is not for free.
The declaration by Lawrence Gonzi that health will be free, free and free until kingdom come is something that should never have been uttered. Alfred Sant has obviously taken advantage of this.
But really and truly this debate on free health is a sad joke. Our health bill runs into millions of euros a year, and this is one thing that is not EU-funded, but comes directly from tax collected from Maltese citizens and businesses and services working within the Maltese fiscal regime.
And now with this super modern hospital, the bill is set to increment.
We lament over poorly paid medical staff but do not ask about who is footing the bill.
We grumble that we need to have more of an after care medicine approach to things and preventive medicine too, but the funds are simply not there.
And why should everything be for free.
It is one great illusion to continue giving the impression that we pay nothing for our health, and both political leaders, if not all four, are unwilling to face the reality that we cannot offer everything for free to everyone.
But back to the campaign.
This proverbial rabbit out of the Alfred Sant’s hat has served to derail Gonzi at least for the moment.
The battle now is not on ideological grounds but on whether we should believe one leader over another. Whether we believe that Sant will never introduce a bill to a service is another thing.
If he does, I will be first one to compliment him on bringing us closer to the real world but not the last one to lambast him on his hypocrisy.
In the last years, attempts to suggest a watertight private health scheme intertwined with the national health bill have simply never got off the ground.
Seminars, conference have produced endless papers with suggestions and the way forward but this has done nothing to convince politicians.
Of course both Sant and Gonzi do not refer to a very important statement in this ‘secret report’, it says: “Unless there is a strong commitment to resolve the funding problems prevalent in the health sector, there will be curtailment of services, while new services or therapies cannot be introduced. Such an eventuality… will jeopardise the health status of the nation.”
So finally someone was talking sense. Well that was four years ago, someone was telling us what we have always believed. The same thing the economists who have disappeared have always believed. And just in case you do not know who I am talking about I am referring to Lino Brigulio, Edward Scicluna, Lino Delia and others, of course.
What they are trying to say in that report is that if we were to prioritise certain quality medical care we have to find the financing for it, and with the present culture of providing everything for free this kind of reform cannot take place.
The sad part in all this is that the only political party which is saying something sensible about health is Josie, but then Josie has a vested interest in doing away with the present system. Just in case you have not realised it yet, he owns a private hospital.
It appears that in this election, achieving high scores is very much linked to how good one appears on telly or to ability to avoid making gaffes. But close to election day such mistakes can cost you a job.
The more important lesson from this game of ping pong is that when it came to health and free health, Alfred Sant was the first not to believe in offering a free service for everything. Really and truly Sant should have led the Nationalist party. He is closer to being centre right then we think.
There is nothing that would stop any future Prime Minister, including Sant, from introducing a cost to a service. In 1996 Sant did not state that he would add a cost to the collection of medicines from the state pharmacy.
I would find it difficult to believe that he would renege on his electoral commitment to continue offering a free health service, but then I would not be too surprised if he changes his mind or amends the meaning of his promises in much the same way he changed his interpretation of the way the surcharge cuts will work and the reception class will apply.
This campaign was turning out to be one of the most spectacularly boring campaigns. But today is like a Shakespearian play.
This last Act has injected some spice to the whole drama, in the theatre world they would describe it as the greatest tragicomedy of all times.
Check? No, checkmate Talking about tragicomedy: Joe Falzon, the MEPA auditor responds to a Green party request on permits in the ODZ with an unbelievable conclusion on the permits issued for LIDL supermarkets in the ODZ|.
Very well timed for the Greens, but horribly timed for government. Joe Falzon need not stand for election with the Greens, or even pretend that he is on their side. He has done quite enough.
He says the permits were illegally issued. What happened next is unprecedented.
Six out of seven members of MEPA’s DCC resigned en masse.
Is this checkmate?
COMMENTS
03/03/08 11:43 PM, salvu
So what do I care if dr. Falzon got a swimming pool or not? All I
care abnout is that as a pensioner I am getting 50% off the surgarge, as I am sure everyboidy else is! By he way,can anyone assure me that non of the care taker ministers in G
03/03/08 9:43 AM, steve
Fabrizio , indunajt li dak mhux veru labour?
03/03/08 9:39 AM, Dudu kbir
Dear Savior B , filli neck to neck u filli 5% PN minn fuq , jekk ta qabel kont qed nemminhom, din ma' nnizziliex , inzilt sa l-ghalqa u iltqajt ma; tnejn hbieb tieghi u staqsejthom lil min se jtugh "Mhux Lejber?" qaluli.
03/03/08 7:25 AM, joseph abdilla
TISTA TGHIDLI KIF QED TAGHMILHOM IS SURVAYS PLEASE. THANKS
03/03/08 7:23 AM, fabrizio ellul
i think the problem with the MLP is that it is not a socialist party at all!
03/03/08 3:46 AM,
During yesterday's meeting that was carried out at Luxol by the Malta Labour Party, Alferd Sant stated that the maltese govenment under the Nationalist party is corrupt and that this country needs a change.
I think the only change that has to be done is in the MLP party itself. Dr. Sant has no idea how to manage politics. We cannot believe one thing that he is saying. Il-Giddieb Ghomru Qasir.
On the 8th March we Maltese and Gozitans cannot vote for somebody in this case the MLP who has not proposed anything which makes sense. So on the 8th March please vote with your minds and consider all proposals that were made by both big parties.
Lets all vote for PN because as Dr. Gonzi has said - "Iggudikawna b'dak li ghamilna u mhux d'dak li nghajdu" PN govermnet has worked a lot for us and our country and for this I say thank you.
03/02/08 11:01 AM, Xandru
10 years in the opposition, and front page l-orrizont shows corruption of around Lm 250 at ADT - 1 week before the election - please tell us what you will do for this country if you are PM next week.
what a pity !! we never had it so good in this country, both to fouvouable global trends and foresight by the past legislators. - what a pity if all goes to ashes for a stupid sensless electoral campaign that told us little what will happen post March 9 if MLP are back in power. Notwitstanding I would like to see a change in the cabinet - really a change in people not in party. I wanted to be a floater, read and watched most of the news. Had to go back to being a PN supporter only because i did not see any real plan from MLP - just promises to gain last minute votes. Actually i sat down and watched all MLP activity on Fossos live - screwed a sunday afternoon - and heard nothing about real plans.
03/02/08 10:44 AM, Alex B
Dear Saviour, need to ask Gonzi 2 questions. He mentions Drydocks more than once, and implied that GWU are hindering progress. So Q1: why has drydocks done so badly in the past 3 years, are there any inquiries, has any action been taken? Q2: If back in power, will he take action against any union or association that hinders re-structuring of this important industry?
Drydocks is the most important technical industry, which supplies all mechanical industries sin Malta, BUT has consumed on average 3% to 4% of our national budget per year. Lest we forget Mrs. T – she had the courage to reinvent her nation.
03/02/08 6:27 AM,
As an old student of those economists you mention, let me tell you why I think they have disappeared. Remember a certain Gordon Cordina? The most talented economist of his generation.
Just remember what the MLP did to him, and to all the others who dared to say what they believed to be right.
This is how the allmighty A.Sant leads his party, and given the chance the country, no wonder MLP has such a severe brain drain.
03/01/08 9:09 AM,
Can anybody tell us why Dr Alfred Sant avoided saying what he wanted to say in front of Jeffery Pullicino Orlando . In my opinion he is a CHICKEN .
03/01/08 7:43 AM, George
For all those who are still saying that health will be at a cost please refer to the declaration that was made in court by Dr. Xerri.
HEALTH SERVICES UNDER THE NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT WILL STILL BE FREE OF CHARGE.
I completely agree with F.Borg with who is the BIG LIAR. I think that the TRUE LIAR is not Dr. Lawrence Gonzi but Dr. Alferd Sant.
Can anyone tell how do you manage to beleive what Sant is saying!!!!!
Dr, Sant is trying to win this election with lies. He is only interested in political powers and not in what is right or wrong for us and our country.
03/01/08 5:15 AM, John
Ian you are absolutely right.With all this 11th hour "scandal scoops" , a proper calm rational debate is out of the question . Both political parties are infuenced by surveys of who is winning the race.Later we'll see.
03/01/08 3:25 AM, Ian
Dear Saviour, another factor which has not been addressed regarding healthcare is it's sustainability. As is of common knowledge, within the next 20 years there is estimated to be an evermore increase in the ederly population. This implies that not only there will be a smaller percenatge of working population (compared to today) but also less tax revenue compared to current levels. Furthermore if one considers that the highest percentage of people who recieve healthcare are over 65, it would suggest that healthcare bills will rise considerably over the coming years. Unfortunately I have yet to hear a proper debate on this issue which is a high priority in many other countries.
02/29/08 10:38 PM, John
Dear Ivan ,very true , keep in mind that there are people out there who think that Mintoff is still in politics and Malta is the centre of the world.
The real deaf are those who do not want to listen , and there are a lot of these around saying "Mhux Xorta!"
They have a vote too.
Neck to neck I would say.
02/29/08 3:30 PM, Ivan
I agree with John. Malta today's surveys are very realistic, unlike those presented by the parties. Howeve I agree than not everyone has a computer, but everyone has ears to hear what the Dr Gonzi and Dr Sant are saying, and everyone has a mind to decide.
02/29/08 11:54 AM, John
Dear Joe respect the abilities of your adversaries.
I , for one take the surveys conducted by MALTA TODAY to be more realistic than a poll on a computer.
In 1996 we were in the same situation.I would believe that the two main parties are neck to neck .Remember that out there, there is another reality : "Cetta ta' Lahlah "does not have a computer but has a vote, This is not Canada.
02/29/08 11:36 AM, F. Borg
Dear Charles,
No one is missing the point. Not long ago, Dr Sant tried to scare us from joining the EU. He said Sicilians will come and take our jobs, manufacturing industry will disappear, €1.5 million from the EU, Partnership Rebah (won) etc etc etc. Now I call that LYING big time, when it is real proof than none of this happened. Now the big LIAR (alfred sant) is calling Dr. Gonzi liar, and pretends us to believe him.
I wonder how you can, charles.
02/29/08 10:52 AM, Joe Martinelli
"Remember that Dr Sant is a marketing strategist , and no one should underestimate his abilities in his field". This is what John wrote further down.
A marketing strategist? Since when? When he headed Metalfond? Between 1996 and 1998?
If he was such a bright light bulb why in 16 years he could not sell himself and his party except for a hiccup which lasted 22 months?
A poll being taken elsewhere asking who will make a better PM, Gonzi is leading Sant by 3 to 1.
Does that not worry MLP supporters at all?
72% cannot possibly be all liars!
Sant is running, panicking, spinning and taking you all down with him!
02/29/08 10:37 AM, Sceptical
I cannot trust those who do not respect referendum results;
I cannot trust those who do not have decent proposals for our country;
I cannot trust those who are not capable of accepting defeat in a University debate;
I cannot trust those who are constantly slandering to win an election;
I cannot trust those who are NOT in favour of Malta being in the EU.
Malta is an now an EU member. Maybe one fine day Someone will decide that it's time to change all this. THE PARTNERSHIP REALITY IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE. CHANGE MAY BE RESERVING FOR US ALL SOME NASTY SURPRISES....
02/29/08 10:05 AM, dudu
Gonzi cannot be trusted because Mr Honesty himself said so.
First we pose as MLP puliti and NP hamalli and now we will pose as holier than the pope.
U halluna!!!
Go to Dubai for an other covert mission , and bring some new business to Malta!!
02/29/08 9:36 AM, Charles
Most of you are missing the point. The point is that Gonzi lied and lied and is still lying because he said that free health was never discussed. It is simply a matter of integrity which is most worrying to me and other honest citizins. We have to conclude that GONZI cannot be trusted.
02/29/08 9:24 AM, Michael
This Health services report saga coming so soon after the latest mess at MEPA, have really shown the main weakness of this strange animal called "gonzipn". I call it "weak leadership"...Gonzi has copied the mistakes of KMB twenty years ago and seems to be another John Major look alike. A likeable person but politically weak heading a party wanting to cling to power at all costs. No amount of libel cases against Sant or other people will remove the sleazy tag that has been pinned on gonzipn by the party's own bigwigs.
The PN should start thinking of calling John Dalli from the wilderness unless they opt for Austin Gatt - what a nightmare scenario that would be!
02/29/08 9:21 AM, John
Remember that Dr Sant is a marketing strategist , and no one should underestimate his abilities in his field. PN experienced such tactics in 1996.I do not blame Gonzi , for taking this 'TERRINATA" seriously.
02/29/08 9:13 AM, Jesmond Cutajar
Dear Saviour
The fact that Lawrence Gonzi returned back to Malta from Gozo like a thunder, it gave evidence of panic and a sort of approval of the news scatterd by Dr Sant. It was a great mistake by the PN strategy group. Another mistake was when he used an AFM helicopter when he was on an activity of the party not on Government duties. This is not an example of good Governance.
02/29/08 7:49 AM, liberty man
vote pn so you can live better life. come on dr sant leave the politics and stay quiete . dr sant you failed
02/29/08 6:15 AM, Il-Falkun
So, the cat is out of the bag. There is no need to deny it that the present administration (and the in coming new administration) will have to reassess the Welfare state as it is no longer sustainable as it stands. With Malta’s entry into the Euro zone, 3% of the GDP of public spending has to be kept or else we will get a slap from Brussels. Dr. Sant please take note.
02/29/08 5:45 AM, John
For convenience's sake Anonymous contributors can use a pseudonym .
02/29/08 5:44 AM, T. Apap
I agree with Ralph. Comments on the times are heavily scrutinised.
As for the person writing about self-sustained business model for teh health sector, it sound like a good idea. And is the Government is doing it already, the better.
02/29/08 5:26 AM, Ralph
Prosit Saviour, on this site everybody can comment feely... on www.timesofmalta.com every comment is heavily controlled...
02/29/08 3:58 AM,
What is this written proof? and who gave it to you? The segretary of the segretary of the segretary of the mule's tail? Is she in a cabinet committee too? What else??? Is that all you have to say? Ridiculous and pathetic.
02/29/08 2:14 AM,
Dear Saviour, Your argument of how can health remian free is not valid. Public administrations around teh world are facing teh same problems and they are tackling in a very serious manner. It is not rocket science. but public private partnership with a self sustained business model is key to such FREE health care services. The current Government is already doing it, in teh environment landscaping , IT etc..
So I really do not see the issue here. Gonzi had 4 years to implement this memo. He did not.
It would have worried me even more if this fact had not been discussed due to the ever increasing prices and health care and its quality. Good it was discussed in the cabinet committee, and a decision was taken. Not to include charges.
02/29/08 1:55 AM, John
Sorry, anonymous BIG BROTHER , I could not understand what you wrote.And who are "WE"?
Its a question of who would you trust , mr anonymous.One cannot call proof, a "Brainstorming proposal" by a civil servant.
02/29/08 1:44 AM,
We have writtene prove that public health will not remain free of charge under if gonzi is the next prime minister. Before something like that can be implemented the goverment has to make sure that every single person has a health insurance, and with the cost of living it'quite impossible to pay for it.
02/29/08 12:25 AM,
02/28/08 11:49 PM, John
We were asked by Dr Gonzi to judge him by his track record; well in his track record there is not one instant where there was any payment in any form for health services.Now Dr Gonzi is reaffirming his position ,stating that as long as he remains PM the Health Services will remain free.
The same cannot be said for someone who is posing as the investigator hoping that he is not being scrutinised .Can we have a similar declaration from Dr Sant .
Wether we believe him or not ,is another question.
02/28/08 11:02 PM, A Zammit
If you wanna see what the author of the same report that Sant is boasting about, you should read his comments!
It will make some good reading! Il-giddieb ghomru QASIR
02/28/08 2:57 PM, Jason
I think when Mr.Martinelli asks whether Cabinet committees have more power than the Cabinet itself he's missing a crucial point: both are chaired by the same man, the Prime Minister.
Saviour is spot on and hits on the biggest problem afflicting the PN: under Saliba's guidance it has transformed itself into a leftist party where everything from health to broadband access (!) has to be indiscriminately subsidised and paid for by taxpayers. The PN may not be the Tories, but surely defending free market economics and not giving the impression that the state should be involved in everything under the sun once in a while would bring some right-leaning PN supporters back to the fold.
02/28/08 1:24 PM, Dion Borg
Hats off the Joe Falzon (MEPA auditor), and AD!
Pants down to.......
02/28/08 12:29 PM, Ronald Brincat
I did very well not buyiny your newspaper no more because if you are a smart editor you should know that it was a proposal report and 4 years ago nobody thought that the Mater dei can open its doors.
Now one can wait and see how Sant is going to proofit at the courts .
02/28/08 11:29 AM, charlot schembri
i am realy shocked by the statement that alfred sant had made about the medical health. i think that he is try to conviced people to vote for mlp. all the maltese people now know realy well mr sant that he likes tp play with words. he is lying again . be careful people because the mlp are the same people that they close our freedom in the 80's. they put our country behind everybody else in the word. those days was the darkest days in the maltese people history . you can remeber that everone in malta was a soldier for 10 maltese lira. so vote pn for better life
02/28/08 8:26 AM, Phillip Micallef
By the way I was passing by a shop in Sliema yesterday and I was shocked to see that all kinds of weapons such as revolvers, Glock automatic pistols, SAWN OFF HAND PUMP SHOTGUNS and many other types of guns for sale and several including the shotgun had 'sold' notices on them!
I would really like to know who needs to buy a pump action shotgun? The police? The Army? Or can a private individual just walk in and buy one (with a license)? And on what grounds are these licences granted? Are hunters allowed to use pump action shotguns by any chance?
02/28/08 8:19 AM, Phillip Micallef
It seems that the Ornis committee has once again decided not to recommend action one way or another and the government is still refusing to take a decision. What the hell is everyone waiting for? Malta is about to be taken to the European Court of Justice. Act like men and BAN SPRING HUNTING NOW! No more passing the buck. Do what the electorate is paying you to do and elected you to do. The government is waiting for the election to pass before doing anything about spring hunting for fear of losing votes. At times like this I wonder if I should give my vote to them (PN). Have the balls to do the right thing!
Labour as usual just sit on the fence waiting for the world to pass them by without taking any action. Maybe it's because some of their members are committed hunters.
02/28/08 7:46 AM,
I would like to say well done Mr Saviour Balzan, who through your courage of convictions, calls a spade a spade and tells it as it is.Your newspaper is a breath of fresh air in the political arena.
Frankly I'm now fed up hearing from the various political parties what they are going to offer us if elected.
If we are going to be offered any more tax cuts then I should imagine that this country of ours will soon become bankrupt.
Of course the problem is that the politicians think that the electorate are so guillable that we will believe everything we're told.
Not so these days, I would like to think, in fact I know that the people are more intelligent than the politicians give them credit for.
There is no doubt what we have been offered is enough to turn this country into Utopia, but then I remember this little useful bit of information.
A good politician should have the ability to foretell what is going to happen next week, next month,and even next year.
And then have the ability afterwards to explain exactly why it didn't happen.
T
02/28/08 6:57 AM, A B
This health-scare fiction is really becoming a paranoia!
It would be better for MLP to explain why they treat their own employees in such a manner.
I'm referring to the overtime saga for the SuperOne Radio and One TV.
That is really shameful, espcially coming from a so called Worker's Party!
02/28/08 6:41 AM, Joe Martinelli
Since when discussing different ideas in cabinet committees add up to an intention of adopting them in the future?
Since when does a cabinet committee have more power than the Cabinet itself?
So, fees for health services were discussed, so what?
Are we now restricted to discuss only what the MLP thinks reflect its policies?
And if the MLP thinks that it was indeed the PN's intention to charge for health services, why did they not in the last three years?
Some cheek, when the MLP short term government between 1996-98 managed to set a fee for medicines and doctors' certificates!
The PN is not dramatizing the issue. After all it was Dr. Sant who wants to sow doubts in voters' minds thinking perhaps he can fool some more. Not likely.
Let's be a bit mature and fair about assessing the various political parties and call a spade a spade
02/28/08 6:36 AM,
My dear Saviour I love your comments becuae they are fair and square. Keep up the good work.
02/28/08 6:28 AM, Georg Degabriele
MLP and PN are making this election a Tragicomedy en farse. One makes a blunder after the other, and the other does not even know what ribbon the cut and what hole to inaugurate. Well done all of you. What is relieving is that in 15 days everything would be over and the losing party's leader is sent packing home, once and for all - ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!!!
