Frank Portelli, St Philip's Hospital, Sta Venera
Footing the bill for accidents
The Times reported (October 24) that Road Accidents Cost Country €83m Last Year, adding that there were 16,000 road accidents, killing 14 people and costing society €83 million in damage, medical fees and loss of production.
Most of these injured patients are treated in government hospitals. Their treatment is highly complex and costly. These patients are, by law, all covered by motor vehicle insurance either as drivers or as third parties. The cost of this expensive treatment should not be borne by the NHS (not by the ordinary taxpayer) but the cost should be borne by the insurance of the individuals who are responsible for the accidents.
This would go a long way in starting to ensure that our health system is viable and that we have enough money to pay for new drugs and treatments.
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J. Buhagiar
Oct 29th 2008, 19:25
Dear Dr. Portelli,
If the Practice you mentioned is "In-Conformance" with the Quality de-facto standards in Europe, I agree.
The Quality & Cost (TCO - Total-Cost-of-Ownership) of anything is not what we think it is.
Manuel Dimech Bridge for example; Cost-to-taxpayer = Cost-to-build + The cost to maintain it throughout its Usefull-life.
Business is business whereve you go. The quality of the workmanship, materials, technology, methods of operation etc. are rarely commissioned In- Conformance with the Engineer's / Designed blueprint to save costs. Builders go as far as reducing steel beam thickness. Stress increases - Useful life reduced from say 100 years to 75years.
The cost of all elements of Non-Conformance is then paid in Maintenance by the Owner & reduced life. Same goes for anything and everything else.
First coats of Tarmac are financed/ built by Government. Local Councils responsible for maintenance. Whoever builds them must be asked to quote and shoulder responsibility for their Useful life & maintenance costs. This way Government Contractors will pay for the lack of conformance with Blueprint not Tax Payers.
You have raised a very VALID contribution really.
Vince Mercieca
Oct 29th 2008, 17:54
Dr Portelli hit the nail on its head. Yes - I also agree that the driver's insurance company should pay, however I know that insurance companies pass the buck to their clients and they would increase all car owners premiums the following year. In such case I would suggest that if the law be amended so that insurance companies pay such bills, any increase would only be passed on to the drivers who were at fault.
We have a 95% surcharge on our W&E bills. Why not having an insurance premium surcharge of 200% (or more) on such careless drivers.
Elaine Mizzi
Oct 29th 2008, 17:07
Frank's point would also cause drivers to act more safely with regards to other people's lives as, if the insurance company covering the driver responsible of the accident has to cover the cost it will then increase the premium of the said careless driver... a way to get the ball rolling in the right direction for the road situation as well as the problem Frank is concerned about.
very good observation and very good point ...i must say this never occured to me before because i was unaware that the system worked this way! it is shameful to say the least! no wonder there are so many bullies on the road and keep increasing!
what are the entities responsible for this doing about it?
vincent a galea
Oct 29th 2008, 12:52
Dr Portelli has an extremely valid point here. Yes, send the Hospital and all related bills to the car insurers. THEY MAKE ENOUGH MONEY ANYWAY!!!