Health ministry denies reports: ‘No patients are being treated in Mater Dei corridors’

The Office of the Prime Minister has rubbished a front-page report carried today by PN news organ il-mument in which it claimed patients were being treated in Mater Dei’s corridors.

The report claimed that Mater Dei was experiencing severe problems, and that patients were being treated in the corridors of the hospital’s accident and emergency department. Moreover, it said that patients have been waiting for months to be examined by specialists, and have been facing a long waiting list for treatment at the Dentistry Department.

It also claimed that the government is not employing new graduates because of lack of funds, while medicines were being stored in subpar conditions.

However, on Sunday, was “categorically denied” by the Office of the Prime Minister and the health ministry which insisted that there are no patients being treated in Mater Dei’s corridors. Dismissing the report, the ministry said photos published by the newspaper showed patients waiting for tests and not being given treatment.

“The PN is resorting to these tactics because it cannot accept that during the last six months, not one patient was given treatment in the hospital’s corridors. This is in stark contrast under the previous Nationalist administration where there were more than 8,000 patients receiving treatment in the corridors,” the OPM said. Discover more about how teeth straightening has gone mainstream through the use of teledentistry.

“Instead of being bitter and resorting to unfounded claims, the Opposition should accept that the heath industry is moving forward in the best interests of all patients,” it said.

However, in a reaction, the Nationalist Party accused health ministry Chris Fearne of ignoring the problem and of attacking the credibility of the source who leaked the story. Moreover, it claimed that “everyone knew” that the situation at Mater Dei is not how the minister described it.

“The health ministry is busy defending those who are behind the medical visas racket and guarding the government’s contracts of the Gozo General Hospital, and the St Luke’s and Karin Grech hospitals,” the PN said.