Shortage of beds at Mater Dei part of PN plan - Muscat

Speaking from the Labour headquarters in Victoria, Gozo, Muscat emphasised the problems surrounding Mater Dei Hospital are part of government’s plan to introduce charges for health services; a plan which will be fulfilled if they are re-elected to government in the next general elections.

“The hospital is new, it’s got good doctors and a good staff, but it’s just not big enough, and people are spending hours waiting in wheelchairs and stretchers because there aren’t enough beds,” Muscat said, blaming all this on government incompetence.

He added that if the PL is elected to government in the next general elections, it guarantees that the health services will remain free.

Muscat discussed the problems being faced by dementia patients, saying that Malta, along with Latvia, is the only EU country that does not provide assistance through medication and services which could help prevent the disease which is now growing in an ageing population.

“This is one of our priorities with respect to the elderly sector and the health sector; a dementia scheme and medication for dementia patients, providing at least basic assistance,” Muscat said.

Muscat emphasised throughout the meeting that, although government is trying to portray the image that the country’s economy is thriving, the pain that families are feeling clearly suggests otherwise.

“I encourage every family to ask themselves whether they were better off a few yrs ago or if they are better off now,” Muscat said, adding that in truth, people are not better off now.

Muscat said that pensioners especially are suffering as a result of government incompetence, and are receiving pensions amounting to €7,000 a year, the monthly equivalent of which is less than the prime minister and ministers recent wage increase.

“More than 16,000 pensioners have to live on €700 a month, and most of them are widows so they have nobody to rely on. This is what the Nationalist government has achieved in the past 24 years,” Muscat said.