'Idle housing stock should be placed on rental market'

The solution to the rent reform problem was to target the idle housing stock of 50,000 houses so that these come into the rental market, opposition spokesman on social policy, Michael Farrugia told Parliament yesterday. Speaking during the debate on the votes of the Social Policy Ministry, Dr Farrugia said that, to avoid problems to owners, one ought to have a conflict-solving board that would take decisions within one or two months. The 1995 rent reform ended up pushing rents and leaving owners unprotected.

Turning to the Rent Reform White Paper, he said the government did not carry out an assessment of the impact its proposals would have. It looked at the problem, tried to offer a solution but stopped there.

The government must look at the whole scenario and the opposition was ready to offer its assistance so that the country would have legislation which would be fair to both the owner and those renting the premises. Such a scheme would offer more reasonable rent rates and the centres of town would come alive as vacant property would become habitable.

Earlier Dr Farrugia said the government was pumping money into bottomless projects while refusing requests for benefits on the pretext of curbing abuse. There was lack of transparency because applicants would not even be given a reason why their application was refused. There was no appeal from the decision.

The introduction of changes in children's allowance and income tax led to injustices which were not addressed. Similarly, action to eliminate anomalies regarding service pensions was taking far too long.

Pensioners and the aged who would benefit from rebates on utility bills would still have to face the ripple effect from such bills. It is the minister's responsibility to see that pensioners do not fall below the poverty line and enjoy a better quality of life. The government, the Church and NGOs all work towards solving social problems but there was an across-the-board deficit. One must shield families and there was the need of more cooperation between the three entities to eliminate duplication of services and make a strong stand against usury, gambling, drugs and alcoholism.

The Healthy Cities programme put together by a Labour government in 1996-98 should be reactivated, coordinating a number of ministries involved in protecting the family.

Speaking of government homes, Dr Farrugia said the Health Department must be more realistic in its infrastructural guidelines laying down that 80 per cent must be single rooms. In the current circumstances, this did not make sense.

It would be better for the department to use its resources to carry out spot checks to see that the food provided is of the best quality and compatible to the diets some have to follow.

He hoped that the proposed night centres for the aged would not end up in some private-public partnership.

Dr Farrugia said that there was overcrowding at St Vincent de Paul. There was a dire need of nurses. The present complement was overworked.

He asked about the plans for Zammit Clapp Hospital and Karen Grech Hospital.

He welcomed the measure for breast screening by end of the year. But in the meantime, there were people suffering and it was not fair that people wait two years for a mammogram. Minister Dalli was right in saying waiting lists were scandalous.

The hospital must stop being run by management by crisis. Action must be taken to stop the squandering of money, theft and overspending, thus saving millions of euros.

There must be a commitment, an injection of funds and clear and specific targets. The structure of Mater Dei Hospital does not address such problems. A number of theatres were not functioning and beds were lacking.

Not even the collective agreements with doctors and nurses have been fully implemented. There was a brain drain problem. Dr Farrugia called on the University to work hand in hand with the authorities to provide courses that would produce the workforce needed in the future.

Mental health needs a holistic change with new legislation that reflects modern trends. New medicines dealing with osteoporosis, Alzheimer and prostate problems must be introduced in the free list.

Earlier, Anġlu Farrugia (MLP) said this was a budget by an insensitive and inefficient government. After 20 years in office, not only did various PN governments never manage to balance budgets but they eroded the country's financial reserves, sold its assets and amassed debt in a way that each family was carrying a burden of €490 a year in debt-servicing-interest. He asked a number of questions regarding those who have been registering for work for more than five years and who would now be employed on community work, and being paid 75 per cent of the minimum wage for doing this. Would they have to carry out jobs usually done by skilled workers? Would they work for private enterprise? Would they be entitled to leave and sick leave? Would they pay NI contributions?

Government figures gave the impression that there was a built-in trend that unemployment was dipping but, after the election, the figures are going up again. The government was not addressing the negative economic indications but was exacerbating the situation with the energy tariff rates. The government is considering part-time employment as a primary job.

During the last four years, 1,500 jobs in the manufacturing sector were lost. Jobs in the services sector went up by 9,000. These were mainly in real estate, services in the community, hotels, wholesale and retail. The real estate and hotel sectors were already giving signs of distress.

The Prime Minister boasted that there were 5,000 workers less in the public service but 3,700 of these were those of entities which had been privatised. Contractual services by ministries and departments were costing the public €9.5 million, an increase of 41 per cent.

While, before the election, the PN boasted that they would strengthen workers' rights, the government was eliminating the workers' director from the Bank of Valletta board of directors on the pretext of the international financial crisis. On the other hand, it was going to increase the bank's board members from nine to 11, including the co-option of a non-executive independent director.

The government was riding roughshod on the unions so much so that 20 unions joined forces in a march held in Valletta yesterday to protest against the utility tariffs.

The Retail Price Index and the inflation rate show that the average weekly rate increased by three per cent, but in real terms, the value of the pay packet showed that workers were earning less than they were earning last year. This was a very grave situation.

Justyne Caruana (MLP) said more and more families were falling below the poverty line. There was a social deficit which was not being addressed because the government was announcing measures without carrying out social impact assessments. The cost of living increase was indeed miserly.

Families were carrying great financial burdens: the cost of living and direct and indirect taxes were on the increase while wages were low. No wonder many marriages were on the rocks. There was the need for a sound structure to take heed of social inclusion problems. More human resources were needed in the social field.

The gender equity index showed Malta at the 38th slot. Women were still facing difficulties to get a job and this called for more child-care services. But at what price? What happened to the childcare subsidy scheme?

Differences in family-friendly measures offered by the government and those offered by the private sector are pronounced. Parental leave was a right but, in the private sector, employers were creating difficulties. The opposition agrees with the four-week increase in maternity leave and more parental leave in difficult births as proposed by the EU.

She pointed out that, while additional leave is given to parents who adopt children, it should be noted that this leave can be utilised only after the child arrives home.

Adoptive parents have much work to see to before the actual adoption - sometimes including visits abroad - and she suggested that this taken into consideration.

The government must encourage more people working on optional reduced hours, temporary working and teleworking. Even ministers admitted that there was a capital outlay for teleworking and, therefore, private enterprise must be assisted.

Dr Caruana said delays in mammography tests were unacceptable.

Malta was not fulfilling its obligations on international conventions protecting children. There was a need for a department to cater for the needs of children, who ought to be given more say in separation cases.

Malta has still not ratified the UN Convention of Persons with Disability and the government must start thinking about fulfilling the obligations.

Concluding, Dr Caruana said lifts in homes of persons with a disability operate on the three-phase electricity system and now these persons will have to pay higher rates, which were an added burden.

Anthony Zammit (MLP) welcomed the government's promise to reorganise resources so that the people would have the best services.

He said €1,400,000 had been earmarked for the purchase of Herceptin for 40 women and €700,000 for breast screening for women aged between 50 and 59. It would be better to vote more money to diagnose cancer earlier.

Looking ahead, Prof. Zammit said €300,000 have been voted for post-graduate training. He suggested an exchange programme with all EU countries so that Maltese professionals would continue specialising abroad while exploiting the potential of medical tourism. Maltese doctors studying abroad must be helped because if not, they will stay away.

Nurses needed specialisation courses which would give them better work satisfaction. However, better management was called for.

Noting that waiting lists continue to grow, Prof. Zammit said that only €69,000 were voted for primary health care. Health care centres are a safety valve for the hospital and must be given importance.

He suggested that a fully-fledged clinic be built at Kirkop, close to the airport and the Freeport to cater for emergency cases.

He welcomed the Swiss government's involvement in PETS. But what would Malta give in return? Was the blood bank earmarked for privatisation?

The oncology department was meant to be transferred to Zammit Clapp Hospital, but the decision was overturned because nobody wanted radioactive waste material at his backyard. What will happen to Boffa Hospital? Would it be transferred to some blue-eyed boy considering its prime position? He drew the government's attention to the fact that the hospital was a bequest by the British to the Maltese.

There were a number of nurses waiting to be employed. Too many nurses had been given top management posts and the wards ended up with nursing officers lacking experience. The British were reverting to the State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) principle with a two-year course.

There were no resources to man the operating theatres. The radiology required 12 more consultants.

Talking about waiting lists, Prof. Zammit said one of his clients had just received an appointment for an ultrasound for September 24, 2010.

He called for the Gozo operating theatre to be refurbished and in turn this could be used to operate on Maltese patients. It could also mean domestic tourism to Gozo.

Preventive care was conspicuous by its absence.

Concluding, he said he dreamt of the day when the health budget would be drawn up by both sides of the House to give the people an efficient holistic care service.

Adrian Vassallo (MLP) said health care was regressing as evidenced by a European agency saying Malta was not consumer friendly.

He suggested a charter of patients' rights, under which clients would be compensated if they were not given the proper health care or left on an endless waiting list. There was no mechanism if a patient's condition deteriorates so that an operation is brought forward.

Turning to the price of medicines, he noted that certain brands could be easily obtained over the internet at a much-reduced price.

Patients from Karen Grech Hospital were being discharged without the family doctor or family members being advised. Some were sent to a government home which was far from the patients' place of residence and this caused hardship to families to visit.

He welcomed the revision of the restricted medicine list and suggested that medicines used in the care of depression, senile dementia, HRT, and prostate would be given out for free, even if the patient has to submit to a means test. He complained that while the pink card entitled holders to all kinds of medicines, many were being refused.

Was the Pharmacy Of Your Choice scheme working? When only 40 pharmacies out of some 250 are involved, how come the government wants to introduce the scheme? Concluding, Dr Vassallo said the government must consider making mammograms available to women in their twenties and thirties who are at risk and not only to women aged between 50 and 59.

Anthony Agius Decelis (MLP) said there were 181,000 persons who were 60 years old and older. People were living longer, are more healthy and active. However, statistics show that 20 per cent were under the poverty line. Energy tariffs were of serious concern.

Pensioners were causing pressure on workers who then see them as burden because the ratio was of two workers to one pensioner.

Only half a page was dedicated to pensioners and the aged in the budget and only two projects were announced: the night shelter for the south and a ward for dementia sufferers at St Vincent de Paul. He hoped there were more projects which had not been divulged.

Mr Agius Decelis called on the government to enter into a partnership with families who want to continue to care for their elderly, through family relief, special leave, flexi-time, training, strengthening the hospice structures and more incentives. The family is very important in the care of the elderly.

He called for an independent body or individual to oversee the area of the elderly, particularly to guard against ageism and see that there would be no discrimination because of age. Participation of elderly persons on government boards was minimal and the government should set an example and utilise their experience.

Government homes should have the same standards throughout. Why was an elderly person costing €31 a day in Mosta and €72 in Mellieħa?