The country is heading towards big problems in the health sector, and these were being ignored by the government, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Ghaqda Veterani Laburisti, Dr Sant said the government wanted to open the new hospital before the general election, leaving the bomb to explode later.

He said there was a red light on the social sector as well. In the past years, the quality of life of many elderly and pensioners had deteriorated.

The cost of living had gone up to its highest rate in the past three years, according to the official retail price index. And it was expected to con-tinue rising with the increased surcharge on water and electricity.

The RPI showed that pensioners' families spent 64 per cent of their income on food, personal and health care. The RPI also highlighted that the cost of food in the past year had increased by four per cent, and that of personal and health care by three per cent.

But the index did not calculate the fact that many elderly people were having to buy medicine they were entitled to get free of charge.

Referring to the Commonwealth leaders' summit, Dr Sant said that during the opening ceremony Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and not the Queen was called when she appeared on stage.

The Nationalists were becoming incompetent even in ceremonies, which were their forte, he said.