Editorial

With a new minister in place following last March's general election, long festering shortcomings in the health service are now being aired more openly.

One of the major problems faced by the health authorities is the use or rather abuse of the Emergency service at Mater Dei Hospital. The situation is such that the government has felt the need to put up billboards throughout the island stating the obvious.

A recent study revealed that only 20 per cent of the people attending Emergency were genuine urgent cases. There are various reasons which explain such an untenable situation. Primarily, this service is available for 24 hours and is free of charge. Quite a number of people are dyed-in-wool egoists and know how to take advantage of government services and do not hesitate to use any means to get their way with absolute indifference to the needs of their more deserving neighbour.

Very often, decisions of priority are left to the discretion of an overstretched medical staff. Such a situation deserves much more than a forest of posters whose impact on public conscience is highly debatable.

Crass impertinence and obvious cases that are not urgent should be disciplined and dismissed forthwith. Having an inspection team to weed out incompetence and abuse would have been a more effective and salutary approach. Too often the government tends to settle for soft options which are generally a waste of money and energy.

However, there are also many people unable to judge whether their medical condition deserves immediate attention or not. Quite a number of the 80 per cent of those attending Emergency would have needed an immediate diagnosis anyway.

The next question that arises is why so many cases are not addressed elsewhere. It is a sad reality that successive Nationalist governments have neglected primary health care as most of the resources and energies were devoted to Mater Dei Hospital. Time and time again, people seeking attention at health centres are referred to the hospital. The public soon realises that it is time-consuming to have to go there when the usual outcome is a referral to hospital.

Here again, the responsibility lies with the government and it has to make sure that adequate services are available at the health centres and that it disciplines staff who take the easy way out by resorting to unjustified referrals.

Yet, it is shocking to note that some two-thirds of cases seeking treatment at the Emergency department at Mater Dei do not even bother to consult their GP or medical staff at the health centres.

Too often, shortcomings in any service are related to mismanagement and poor deployment of staff and equipment. The health service is no exception. Social Policy Minister John Dalli's complaint that Mater Dei is a part-time hospital is a damning indictment of the prevailing situation.

The time for talk and billboards is over. It is in the country's interest that the authorities take the bull by the horns and act. There is too much at stake. A sustainable and readily-available health service is the cornerstone of a compassionate and civilised society.

It cannot be placed at risk either by the irresponsible behaviour of the public or the incompetence and pusillanimity of the health authorities/operators.