'Not only medicines that are out of stock, but the government's credibility too' - Grech

The PL's healthcare proposals continue to trickle out, with government funded operations at private hospitals and medicine deliveries for vulnerable persons all on the bill.

1 February 2013, 12:00am
by Jacob Borg

2 min read

Louis Grech, Joseph Muscat and wife Michelle.

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this evening continued to enlighten the assembled crowd as to the PL's proposals for the coming election.

The discussion under the dome treated the PL's vision for healthcare.

Proceedings were opened to much gaiety with some cheesy tunes belted out by a live band, with John Bundy picking up things seamlessly from there as the master of ceremonies.

The Labour Party is proposing to establish a patients' charter in order to allow patients to know their rights. The PL is pledging to fund operations, allowing them to be undertaken privately should a predetermined waiting time be overrun at Mater Dei.

"Patients should know their rights. In the framework of this charter that we are putting forward, we shall establish the maximum waiting time for every type of operation. These will be established in conjunction with medical professionals. If the maximum waiting time is overshot, the government will foot the bill for the operation to be carried out at a private hospital."

Another proposal is for medicines to be delivered to the more vulnerable members of society.

"It irks me when elderly persons do not have transport to hospital to pick up their medicine. We shall be introducing a service for persons over 70-years of age to have medicines delivered to their doorstep. This initiative will also apply to persons with a disability or mobility problems. The service is not going to be carried out by delivery persons. It will be conducted by professionals. The projected cost of this proposal is €500, 000," Muscat said.

Deputy Leader Louis Grech said that it is not only medicines that are constantly out of stock, but the government's credibility too.

"We have to build on the pride that people working in the healthcare sector evidently have in their work. We have already announced 100 proposals that are all part of our roadmap. Many more are still to come," Muscat declared.

"The current caretaker government is offering a refund for out of stock medicinals. This is a dangerous precedent that is going to introduce paid healthcare. The maximum waiting time will be introduced in order to ensure that the person is provided with the service before this time elapses. We should respect our targets and be held accountable for them, just as is the case in the private sector. Like this we can ensure that the taxpayer gets maximum value for their money," Muscat said.

More from Jacob Borg

Luke Camilleri •

GONZI = No Credit , No Credibility! Even an ATM knows that! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQaC6hoYi-U

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With gonzipn's proposal regarding medicines out of stock gonzipn is promoting another way for the bazuzzli to abuse the system. What gonzipn is suggesting the government will leave medicines out of stock on purpose so those importers who are gonzipn's bazzuzli will import higher price medices for which patientes will pay and are only re-imbursed what it would cost the government who buys in bulk therefore cheaper.

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The term I would use is expired.

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Dear Mr Grech, 'Not only medicines that are out of stock, but the government's credibility too' and Government's common sense. The only thin we have abundance of is "Corruption, and hatred by some of the Nationalist against Labour supporters" What does Robert Arrigo mean by the red and blue? I like to remind him what he said when I accpeted him in my house beffore the 2008 general Election, he said as was entering my house " You Laborites are all the same". That was his greeting. I hope that there will be some new, young and some nationalist with some common sense which in a way is not so common. I suggest you listen yo Joseph Muscat's speeches, you might learn something, although I am not fully in agreement with what he say "Malta ta' Kulhadd". For the last 25 years Malta didn't belong to one and all but only to the FEW, "Hux bera Gonzi and Company.