Muscat claims health charges, publishes report, PN denial

salvu calleja

May 27th 2009, 19:02

Let face it PPL GonziPn has no credibility anymore, thank god the report is published and everyone could make his own judgements. Dear Prime Minister who do you want to fool anymore? DALLI already had expressed clearly enough on this ISSUE and since he is one of your cabinet and there was no DENIAL.......I TRULY BELIEVE DR.JOSEPH MUSCAT RATHER THAN YOU>>>>

Mike Magri

May 27th 2009, 16:03

Dear Mr. Joseph Scicluna... All you said is EASILLY PEREFECTLY applicable to today's GonziPN Regime......
For that matter, and as far as letters are concerned we all too remember very clearly many, many other PN letters of various election gimical promisses, sent by GonziPN and the one before him... Ask the teachers, the doctors, the hunters and trappers, bus drivers and owners, the drydocks and port workers, the unemployed, the doctor of your choice, and so ooooonn and ooooonn...!!
Thats enough for now, i guess.....

Joseph Scicluna

May 27th 2009, 15:11

@ mike magri. What your socialist govt. wanted to do in 1998 was only the beginning of the road leading to other health charges like the students stipends. I still remember the letter that was sent to the students promising that their stipends would not be touched. But thankfully we BOOTED OUT your amateurish government As for my memory, I thank Almighty God that it is still going strong. That's what is clear to me and many, many others.

Joseph Scicluna

May 27th 2009, 14:52

@ Keith SC Grech.
Prosit Mr. Grech. No one could have put better than you. But I hate it when people especially like Muscat and his regime start and continue twisting facts.

Mike Magri

May 27th 2009, 14:39

@ Joseph Scicluna.. For your info, and to put YOUR's and the memory of others like you in order, and so that you also know FOR A FACT who's twisting facts, in November 6th, 1997, the then Labour Minister of Finance, Mr. Leo Brincat, in his 1998 Budget Speech, said precisely this.."..In order to raise public awareness of the volume and costs involved in this area, the Health Department, would be charging a FEE of .50 malta cents for each Medical Prescription, against which, Medicines are GIVEN FREE, whatever their costs.." Clear now Joseph....!!!

@.Dear John Spiteri et ALL.. Oh come on Guys. Stop acting like kids and call a spade, a spade. Mr. Aquilina just said that ".. no where in these Terms of References the government has asked the Task Force to analyse the possibility of payments in the Health Scheme.." Of course not. Ma Tarawx..!! This 'POSSIBILITY' remains the SOLE PREROGATIVE for Conclusion of the GonziPN Government, as this is a highly Red-Hot Political factor... AND THAT 'POSSIBILTY' IS AND REMAINS THERE ALSO, RIGHT...!!??!!??

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JOSEPH...

Keith SC Grech

May 27th 2009, 11:58

@ Joseph Scicluna
I understand your point. Their is no such thing as a free lunch. We either pay directly for the service or else make up for it through taxation. When it comes to Health we should not be divided. Everyone should be given proper Health treatment as it is the backbone of any working society such as Malta. The government should make the Report on the implementation of a patient registration system in Malta public for discussion now that the beans have been spilt. In addition, tonight Profs Scicluna will be addressing the subject of Health Care on a private TV station. It may be proper if we all take note what both parties are planning in terms of Health Care. At the end of the day our well being is involved !

Anthony Mizzi

May 27th 2009, 11:34

The Nationalist party said that Dr. Muscat was twisting FACTS, than why hasn’t the nationalist Party stated the FACTS before Dr. Muscat published them?

And hasn't the Nationalist Party used the health services as a political football for the last 20 years and more why do they want to stop now?

Dear P.N. the strategy you use described ably in this quote by William Shenstone -

A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood. -

is not holding anymore.

Well done Dr. Muscat for exposing the true pre-electoral colours of Gonzipn.

John Spiteri

May 27th 2009, 11:09

Dear Mike Magri,

Read a litte bit what the people below are writing. This is a report by a task force commissioned by teh Government. The terms of reference as Tony Aquilina said, do not include any reccomendations on costs, so this means that THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT ASK TEH TASK FORCE TO ANALYSE THE ISSUE OF COSTS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH. This report has been presented in cabinet and our Prime Minister Gonzi has declined that reccomendation. This report was done in August 2008. 10 months ago. If this reccoemndation was to be adopted, it would have already been.

The same old story for teh report shown by Alfred Sant on the eve of elections. This was more than a year and half ago. NO FEES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. But I geuss you were too blind to see that then, and too blind to see this now. Joe Muscat is fooling all of you. BEWARE......

Joseph Scicluna

May 27th 2009, 11:01

@mike magri YOUR SOCIALIST GOVT. IN 1996" DIN TA KOLLOX BXEJN, IRRIDU NAQTGHUHA, GHAX XEJN M'HU BXEJN..."........!!!!!!!!!! . When it wanted us to pay for the free medicines. Short memory or twisting facts

mario scerri

May 27th 2009, 10:59

Il-Malti jghid il-qasba m ccaqcaqx ghalxejn. Din sieheb tal-kaccaturi kemm qalulhom li l-kacca se tibqa fir-rebbiegha. Qabel ir-referendum u l-elezzjoni generali ta' l-2003. Kulhadd jaf x gara.

Din gravi hafna ghax hemm is-sahha tan-nies fin-nofs. Ftakru x kien qal darba John Dalli.

NAQTAWHA LI KOLLOX SERVIZZI SOCJALI W NIPPRETENDU KOLLOX B'XEJN. MHUX HEKK IMMA JEKK HEMM BZONN INHALLSU GHAS-SERVIZZ.

Dak li kien qal John Dalli jidher li wasal biex jibda jitwettaq. Nappella lin-nies jivvutaw b'mohhom u mhux b'qalbhom.

Joseph Scicluna

May 27th 2009, 10:48

"Now it's clear. The mask has fallen" FROM MUSCAT'S FACE

G. Mangion

May 27th 2009, 10:27

mlp leader J.m, are you not ashamed ? misleading is your only way to make People think that you are some super politic, Take Care all Internet User's
he j.m, If God Forbid some day will be a P.M, the first thing he will so happily BLOCK, is Our Access to The Internet !!! Why Because SKONT IZ - ZOKK IL FERHA, LIKE , SANT, KAREMENU, U DUMINKU !! MLP Never changed and Never WILL, ............Think People Think

Stefan Ciantar

May 27th 2009, 10:21

Some simple principles of economics. When deficits prolong and become structural governments can only balance the budget by increasing productivity, increase taxation, reduce current expenditure (that is mainly composed of social services), or through a combination of these three economic principles. It sounds easy but in reality it is a complex and difficult situation. From my point of view taxation levels cannot increase further as families of the working class will be hit to hard, productivity levels are expected to remain slugish due to the international economic crises thus its the welfare state that will have to give in. Whether its the health structure or other aspects of the social welfare state is yet to be seen. We must also keep in mind that the EU has warned Malta on its excessive deficit. Lets just hope that it remains a warning and does not escalate into financial penalties in the years to come. The debate amongst economists and financial managers will continue.

carmel zammit

May 27th 2009, 10:12

why commision a report if you are not going to abide by it?waste of time and resources.il hallil meta jinqabad qatt ma jammetti.il qasba ma caqcaqx ghal xejn.issa qieghed nillarmaw il poplu din bhal tal power station. il poplu sar immune ghal dawn l affarijietTAL ALLARMANTI MHUX FL INTERESS TAL POPLU LI DAWN L AFFARIJIET IKUN JAFHOM

Joe Micallef

May 27th 2009, 10:09

The immorality of Dr. Muscat knows no limits! He immorally confuses a policy report with an implemented policy to bolster his otherwise pathetic vision. It’s not only immoral because he seeks to score political mileage on a lie but because that lie has negative outcomes on the already precarious health of those that need free medical care.

Let's take as an example a report commissioned by the PL itself, that on communications ethics requested post electoral defeat. That report advised that the PL should not crop recordings to personally attack candidates. That report was not implemented by the PL who could not resist the temptation to do just that with Dr Perici Calascione.

You ought to be ASHAMED! Although I know well that that does not feature in your values!

Mike Magri

May 27th 2009, 09:17

Dr. Joseph Muscat IS saying the TRUTH... the WHOLE TRUTH... and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH....... Period............
He had shown ALL of Malta and Gozo, clear cut evidence of what the GonziPN government has in store for US.. In fact Dr. Gonzi was SOOOO Extremely Visibly STUNNED, when Joseph showed him that INFAMOUS Payable health services proposal Report Commissioned by GonziPN Regime, ITSELF... Above all, this is NOT the first time that we heard and read various PN Ministers, especially Mr. John Dalli, Uttering a Hundred Times, and refering to our free health system, saying..".. DIN TA KOLLOX BXEJN, IRRIDU NAQTGHUHA, GHAX XEJN M'HU BXEJN..."........!!!!!!!!!!
Re PN's Denial.... What can anyone say... A LOT OF RHETORIC AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT DON'T MEAN A DARN THING... BLAAA... BLAAAA.. BLAAAA...
Meaning..... We must listen, be aware and BE WISE of what the PL Leader, Dr. Joseph Muscat is saying, if we do not want to LOOSE this very important Social Service, once and for all...!!!!!

BE.. COUNTED........................ V-O-T-E... L-A-B-O-U-R.........................

laurence schembri

May 27th 2009, 09:13

So many promises, so many denials, in the end it is us who have to pay the price.

Rudolf Degiorgio

May 27th 2009, 08:57

IT'S WRITTEN BLACK ON WHITE DEAR GONZIPN.....YOU CAN'T DENIAL........ THE TRUTH IS THAT GONZI'S CREDIBILITY HAD REACHED A NEW LOW...........YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE FOR SOME TIME, BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME ...
6 th JUNE VOTE LABOUR

Joseph Camilleri

May 27th 2009, 08:44

oh dear.. different leader, same tactics. Do they really have to keep coming up with these stunts? Do they honestly think people will fall for these stunts?

C. Sapiano

May 27th 2009, 08:37

There is a big difference between a proposal and accepting a proposal. The PM did not accept the payment proposal, and that is what counts.

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

May 27th 2009, 01:43

Dr Joseph Muscat Leader of the opposition – is once again making false allegations.

Muscat alleges - that the Nationalist Government plans to introduce payment in State Hospitals for medical treatment given to Maltese Citizens .

I am reassured personally by the Prime Minister Dr Gonzi that medical treatment under the Maltese NHS system will remain free, at the point of need, for all Maltese Patients covered by the NI system

Dr Muscat knows that this is the case – yet he continues to repeat these false allegations

He is not being honest with the Maltese People.

Dr Muscat’s allegations are causing great concern to patients - especially to those patients who have no choice because they cannot afford to receive treatment in the private sector.

I expect that Muscat stops playing with patient’s emotions and that he starts treating patients with the respect they deserve.

He should start by withdrawing these false statements which are only increasing patient’s anxiety.

In my view Dr Muscat has lost control not only over his own political party but worse he has lost control over himself

Tony Aquilina

May 27th 2009, 00:12

What joe muscat is blubbing about are nothing but reccomendations and not the position of teh Government. What really counts are the terms of reference of what the task force set to do. Page 4 of the report highlights these terms of reference and in no where in these TORs the Government has asked the task force to analyse the possibility of payments in the health scheme.

I would have pretended a more mature way of doing politics from Dr muscat, but he is using same old tricks as his predecessor.... shame

Stefan Gauci

May 27th 2009, 00:07

Joe Muscat who is aspiring to be a Prime Minister but he does not even know the difference between a report commissioned to submit reccomendations and the official position of the Government.

Well one thing Joe Muscat is right. Skond iz zokk il fergha. But he was referring to himseld and his mentor Alfred Sant....

mari farrugia

May 26th 2009, 23:57

Nowhere does the PN exclude Joseph Muscat's claim that patients will have to register to a private GP and pay the GP out of ones own pockets (or insurance).

Lawrence Gonzi wants us to pay the GP (who would be paying a fee to govt) before being sent to hospital.

Now it's clear. The mask has fallen.

E Farrugia

May 26th 2009, 23:35

It is indeed sad to hear LP politicians ignoring the drastic measures needed to heal the flaws in our health system The people who work in the Health Service including the MAM /MUMN agree that reforms must be urgently introduced so as to try to bring under control the present persistent haemorrhage of resources
The idea behind this commisioned report was to try and introduce some degree of rationallity and order at primary health care level in our health system with the hope that the strain on the services at secondary care level will be eased It is unheard of as stated by Dr Scicluna that all the people of these islands should be entiled to free medication without being means tested, obviously one should make allowances for certain ailmnts viz oncological and grossly incapacitating disorders.

The whole system is being crippled and it is crying out for drastic reform otherwise it is going to collapse.
After all if the Gonzipn gov manages to introduce some degree of reform in our NHS it will be the next LP goverment who will be able benefit from these reforms
So pl let us not alarm our people unduely about these reforms .