Sexual health policy still in the incubator

The National Sexual Health Policy, which has been in gestation for some seven years, remains in the incubator and the Social Policy Ministry says it is "still being developed internally".

The policy is now being used as a pretext by the ministry as to why the head of the Genitourinary Clinic, Philip Carabot, was being pushed into denying requests for interviews from different media organisations on sexually-transmitted diseases and sexual health.

This issue arose a day after The Times had carried an interview with Dr Carabot on August 4. He was informed by health authorities that before communicating with the media he had to seek permission from his superiors.

Ever since, Dr Carabot, who for years has been known for being very accessible, striving to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases, has been unable to give interviews.

Realtà, a free newspaper distributed on the University campus, asked to interview Dr Carabot but the request was turned down. It will now be holding a protest on Friday in solidarity with Dr Carabot.

Its editor, Mark Camilleri, said he had gone through the proper channels and written to the ministry's PRO, requesting an interview with Dr Carabot in September.

In the e-mail, Mr Camilleri said the interview was mostly intended to tackle AIDS and STDs. The director general for health care services, John Cachia, replied back: "Permission requested is not granted".

"We were not given any explanation as to why our request was turned down," Mr Camilleri said.

Irked by the reaction, Realtà said it will be holding a press conference as a form of peaceful protest against "the government's infringement of Dr Carabot's fundamental rights and freedom of speech".

"The government's reaction in this day and age is shameful," Mr Camilleri said.

Contacted for his reaction, Dr Carabot said: "I cannot speak to the press at this crucial stage". He did say that he will not be taking part in the protest, however.

In the meantime, the government has denied gagging Dr Carabot, saying it had only advised him to avoid situations where the National Sexual Health Policy would be discussed "since this was still being developed internally".

"In no way is the ministry trying to stifle the suggestions of its experts. In fact, at the moment Social Solidarity Minister John Dalli, together with Dr Carabot are working together to draw up this policy," a ministry spokesman told The Times.

The comments come four months after health director general Ray Busuttil had said the policy should "be finalised in the coming weeks".

Despite the delay, the fact that Dr Carabot and Mr Dalli are working on this policy could be welcome news, since Dr Carabot had been cynical about what the policy would contain once published.

He had told The Times in August that the last policy, which was updated six years ago, was full of holes and inaccuracies, and he hoped "it's been revisited since".