Dalli calls for discussion on health insurance
Social Policy Minister John Dalli this afternoon urged the opposition to work with the government on making the health system sustainable well into the future.
He said the government has taken initial steps on a process to consider whether a health insurance system should be introduced by hiving off part of social security contributions and channelling it to the health account. This was a complicated matter – should there be public or private insurance and what should be covered?
But the first problem was to clearly establish what the health service was costing the country, and an accountant had been engaged to establish that.
Turning to expenditure on medicines, Mr Dalli said costs were rising fast. Should the state continuing to hand out free Panadols or concentrate on the more expensive, life-saving medicines? The government had just introduced Herceptin, but there was a whole list of other medicines which could be considered. The system, however, could not continue to be burdened.
The minister criticised the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses for ordering industrial action. He said the government was committed to honouring the collective agreement. But many things took time, in view of government bureaucracy – something which needed to be tackled too.
He agreed with the union that the nursing course should be reduced. Why did the course take three years in the UK and four in Malta?
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mario mifsud
Nov 15th 2008, 00:03
I GALEA
I was being sardonic
the problem with some people is that whenever nm MLP govt tries to do something all hell breaks free but when the PN does the same thing then it is only in the nation's interest.
It is true though that the PN govt is better at selling
Just take a look on the increase in car. reg. tax
The gov is paying for publicity to tell people that this was only done in the interest of a better environment. But this publicity did not mention the increase on car fuel ..irrespective of the type of car, or the increase in car reg iirespective if one changed the engine to a more eco friendly one, did not mention the increase of reg. on supposedly yachts when in fact it is discriminatory against the smaller vessels. Nor are we being informed what exactly we have to pay for our Water and Electricity which we are consuming right now
lgalea
Nov 14th 2008, 22:57
mario mifsud
You are correct, but when the Labour Government introduced a similar 50c charge the PN and its little elves shouted that the Labour Government was conscienceless.
MD Fenech the above applies to you also.
Simon Sullivan
We pay our taxes which used to cover for everything, but now notwithstanding that we are burdened with more taxes than we can afford you support payment for health services. Maybe you can afford private treatment and can afford insurance, but the vast majority cannot.
A. Saliba
What are their wages and what amount of taxes do they pay? I don't think that they pay exorbitant taxes like us.
C. Mc Neil
Maybe for you it isn't a large sum, but for many families it is. And that is apart from the exorbitant taxes which we pay and the increase in VAT from 15% to 18% supposedly to cover our health system because of Mater Dejn.
Charles J Buttigieg
Remember also that those who earn more pay more taxes.
Why is it that it is being suggested that we pay for everything, one sector after the other?
WE ARE TAXED MORE THAN ENOUGH.
malcolm seychell
Nov 14th 2008, 21:50
Whats wrong with a discussion?
Health insurances can reduce the daily cost of Mater Dei, which is paid from your taxes.
Obviously the Tax or NI has to go down for those who decide to take care of their health themselves.
Thanks you again Minister Dalli for being the only one with Austin Gatt who have center right policies rather then left wing like some other ministers.
Charles J Buttigieg
Nov 14th 2008, 20:23
@ Edgar Gatt. Social justice is not the monopoly of Socialism but it is a socialist principle. The PN is anything but a Socialalist Party but like other right wing or right of centre ideologies it also embraces a degree of social justice but that does not mean that essentially social justice isn’t the pinnacle of the socialist ideals.
Our resources are limited, if we continue spending money on social services that we cannot afford our good medical services will decline and the lower income earners would be deprived the right of good health care while the strong would start going to private clinic. That would become capitalism of the lowest form which, thank God, our conservative government does’nt embrace yet thanks to the 16 years of Labour in Government that changed the PN mentality social services-wise.
D Delia
Nov 14th 2008, 19:26
For those who suggest that the rich should pay for the service while the poor gets it for free:-
I consider my salary as good and I pay my taxes to the full BUT since I am paying my taxes I still expect to benefit from the health services as much as those who don't or can't pay their dues.
C.Zarb
Nov 14th 2008, 19:23
Can anyone help me on becoming a 'miskin' and start taking the free perks.
I mean I am a Maltese citizen (so coming on a boat and pretend to be an illegal immigrant is out of question), and I happen to be male (so there is no way to become a single mother). Is there any other way how not to pay for the surcharge + the health services?
C.ZARB
Nov 14th 2008, 19:16
Can anyone explain to me why hard working people should pay for their own health service and the health service of the leeches of society?
We are reaching a situation where its worth being 'a miskin'. No surcharge and Now free health services
E Gatt
Nov 14th 2008, 18:53
@ Mr C J Buttigieg
Social justice is not the exclusive monopoly of Socialism. I am not a Socialist but I agree with you that everyone should be entitled to the best health care. A free market system creates more wealth than a state-controlled system. More wealth can then ensure a sustainable public health system. The pharmaceutical industry, that operates in a free market, has provided humanity with new cures that have saved millions of lives.
Charles J Buttigieg
Nov 14th 2008, 18:24
Part Two.
I am a lifelong Social Democrat and can never see myself voting PN, nevertheless if John Dalli finds the equitable formula to overhaul our social services I would be the first person to applaud him.
Our social contributions are not taxes, nor payments for a commercial insurance, as members of a civilised society we should all chip in to see to the needs of those families that need help. People who can afford must pay and the less fortunate that can’t afford are still entitled for the best health care for free. This is the progressive socialism which I believe in.
C. Mc Neil
Nov 14th 2008, 18:21
How about a payment fee of say 15 or 20 Euro's per annum to obtain Free Private Hospital Clinic Services. At this much reduced rate the Government can make an agreement with one or two of the Health Insurance Agencies in Malta, such as BUPA or that of PPP (Atlas). Thereby, everyone if he does not want to wait long to go to the Mater Dei Hospital, then by being a member within this health system, he can always use a private hospital. The fee of say 15 or 20 Euro per person is not a large sum to pay, and everyone can afford it. How about a good system that would also allows you to go not on one visit for example to test blood, or visit a specialist for something not more than once. Some present insurance agencies do not allow you to claim more than once, or the second time, which in my opinion is not fair, but are all offering a rip off system of health insurance...... Maybe have to pay say 10 or 15% more....
Charles J Buttigieg
Nov 14th 2008, 18:21
Part One
Before I retired from work my salary surpassed that of the Prime Minister, perks included free internet service, free petrol, a company car, free telephone, an enhanced health and hospitality insurance almost for free, an entertainment allowance as well as free air travel to any part of the world for me, my wife and our two lads.
In 2002 I went through a life threatening situation which needed major surgery and because of the seriousness of my condition my physicians recommended to get my treatment at St.Lukes naturally for free, moreover during my time at the hospital the Insurance Company gave me a lucrative per diem allowance as a gratuity for saving them the expense of more than LM 7,000 for my treatment. While I was getting my treatment and getting my gratuity, full salary and all the perquisites, young mothers were dying of breast cancer because our health service couldn’t afford the life-saving drug Herceptin.Some social justice!
F J Brincat
Nov 14th 2008, 17:47
Well, if out of the NI we presently pay, say 10% of it weekly (that means 10% of the NI not of the wage ) goes to a private scheme, then maybe that is something to be considered.
But the government cannot expect us to fork out more money to cover ourselves for health/pension schemes right now.
To M D Fenech: It would have been a lot better had we paid the 0.50c in 1997 as back then we could afford it.
Raymond Buhagiar
Nov 14th 2008, 17:45
tight up your belt that's what we need wara finanzi fis sod
A. Saliba
Nov 14th 2008, 16:53
Mr. Dalli: take a look at the system used in Singapore, considered one of the best in the world:
http://www.american.com/archive/2008/may-june-magazine-contents/the-singapore-model
"The United States spends 15.4 percent of its GDP on healthcare, while Singapore spends just 3.7 percent.
The state, using taxes, funds only about one-fourth of Singapore’s total health costs.
Singapore’s system requires individuals to take responsibility for their own health, and for much of their own spending on medical care. As the Health Ministry puts it, “Patients are expected to co-pay part of their medical expenses and to pay more when they demand a higher level of service. At the same time, government subsidies help to keep basic healthcare affordable.”
Wayne Hewitt
Nov 14th 2008, 16:26
Malta has only one resource... the human resource and there is a capitalist argument for keeping the health system free, I mean... this is the only way we can ensure we take care of the only resource we have.
My concern with the current system is that although I am paying a massive amount of tax, I cannot enjoy the services of our supposedly free healthcare system... I mean how on earth can a worker queue for half a day in the outpatients department or wait for decades in a waiting list to get an operation done?? I am still ending up turning towards private clinics and hospitals anyway (call it an additional tax on my social security contributions!)
Basically, irrispective of how nice our new hospital is (and congratulations for that btw... St Lukes was despicable), we are not getting any value for our money at all.
We have to also quit this emerging (and stupid) mentality that if someone earns more, he or she has to pay more? What on earth are we talking about.... we already have an unfair system where the more we work, the more we're taxed!! incentivizing people not to work!
WJ Gatt
Nov 14th 2008, 16:25
@Simon Sullivan
Maybe it's about time too! It could be that we are finally understanding that the status quo will only result in a more lethargic nation.
It's true that our current government finances are not 'fis-sod' - this may well be a step in that direction, ceteris paribus.
George De Giorgio
Nov 14th 2008, 16:24
@ MD Fenech
If you don't want to moan, pay for our services too.
and remember: promissio boni viri obligatio
E.Psaila
Nov 14th 2008, 16:23
In Ukraine there was the Orange revolution that toppled government. Should we do something similar? Enough is enough now. So if we pay more and more for everything, where are our taxes going? To pay for their wages, parties, jaguars and stuff like that? Come on. It's a shame that everyone has to suffer including people who did not vote for this somekind of government. This is a clear explanation of "the majority is not always right"...you see now dear GonziPN proud members and supporters...do you have enough money in our pockets?...If you do...count them to see if you will have any left in a year time...
George De Giorgio
Nov 14th 2008, 16:22
Hehe! Do you remember pre-election billboards promising free health services to all?
Do you remember how GonziPN called Dr Sant a liar when he told the nation that GonziPN will stop giving us this free service?
Now we exaxtly know who the liar is.
Thank You, Dr Gonzi. Thank You Mr Dalli ...
E Gatt
Nov 14th 2008, 16:21
Although I am not an Alfred Sant fan, his introduction of a Lm0.50 fee on ‘free’ medicines was one of the very few sensible measures taken when he was PM.
I am happy to pay tax to ensure that decent healthcare is available to everyone in Malta. I am also sure that there is rampant waste and that John Dalli has the right qualities to introduce measures to increase efficiency in our health sector.
In my opinion, incentives to encourage private health insurance (such as BUPA) could reduce waiting lists and reduce the burden on state hospitals’ resources.
peter camilleri
Nov 14th 2008, 16:20
What have become of the slogans 'FINANZI FIS - SOD' u 'FLIMKIEN KOLLOX POSSIBLE' ?!?!?!?!?!......Cannot the Government and its Ministers really understand that we cannot be dealt more blows....we are being overtaxed and our standard of living will be endangered in no time!!!!.......we cannot manage more burdens Hon Minister John Dalli & Co.!!!!
simon sullivan
Nov 14th 2008, 16:19
Mr Coppola...only good children get presents, naughty kids get coal.... when we as a nation stop abusing of the social services still offered by the government then we can afford to have such services for free. do you know anyone who receives a healthy salary but still avails himself of the childrens allowance, or uses mater dei as opposed to having private health care. Do you know of anyone who works for the government and puts in a token amount of hours if any. Generalisations are more than odious but this country has been systematically bled dry and most of us are now far too used to having it relatively easy to see that these measures are sound.
MD Fenech
Nov 14th 2008, 16:18
AS introduced a fee back in the 96 on medicines free of charge. None of you moaned back then. So please shut up now!!!!
alex coppola
Nov 14th 2008, 16:06
Is this another Christmas present?
J. Tonna
Nov 14th 2008, 15:55
Medicines and health care should be free only to those who do not afford them. A way can be found to tag all those who request free medicines and health care. These, while applying for these should empower the gvernment to go into their earnings whenever it is required. One may be unemployed for a few months, apply for free medicines and health care, and then find a good job earning him thousands and thousand of Euros.
Denise Caruana
Nov 14th 2008, 15:48
what is this - another attempt at introducing a new tax????? if we continue at this pace we will soon end up again with beggars in the streets, I'm scarcely able to make ends meet these days.
As for the free medicines the government should simply introduce a flat nominal fee when persons go to collect medicines. Even EUR3 would be fair considering that many medicines cost many multiples of this if you buy them from a pharmacy - that would stop the abuse of people going to collect medicines when they don't really need them. I could never understand why they criticised Sant so much when he introduced the nominal LM0.50 fee - it was a sound policy!!
Simon Sullivan
Nov 14th 2008, 15:46
ridding ourselves of the past one freebee at a time...love the way the Maltese react to having to carry their own weight and ... HA wait for it.... Paying for services they receive.
Christopher Cutajar
Nov 14th 2008, 15:42
When pacts are called "historical" by the same party in govt which signs them, then they should surely be respected.
Workers can only respond with industrial actions when pacts are teated as merely accumulated paper on shelves.
A mass-rally will be held by nurses on Tuesday. If the govt keeps on being intransigent in its stand, he will phase tougher actions.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
mario mifsud
Nov 14th 2008, 15:37
We could introduce a minimal charge of say 1Euro for free medicene to curb waste (overstocking of medicene by patients)
If this goverment introduces this WTC (waste deterrent charge will be called like this) it will surely be aplauded by the blue diehards
and although some unions and entities would oppose, people will eventually understand that it is for the sustenability of the system and that the goverment is being responsible
..dejavu anyone ?
joyce aquilina
Nov 14th 2008, 15:33
here we go ,another election promise will soon be broken,we will have to pay insurance for our health care,
can evreybody afford it?
lgalea
Nov 14th 2008, 15:28
As we say in Maltese the octupus is turning for its tentacles.
A. Saliba
Nov 14th 2008, 15:28
Finally! Thank you Minister Dalli. Let's end this "free-for-all" unsustainable and, frankly, unfair system once and for all.
Carmel Vella
Nov 14th 2008, 15:27
Here we go