Public health services will remain free - government

Darren Bugeja

May 29th 2009, 09:42

Please stop saying that the health is free. We pay for health, part of the NI goes to the health service. I would like to see a more fair system, where an individual can opt to pay a reduced NI (for pension only) and pay his own private insurance. However an individual would only be entitled to pay a reduced NI rate, if he/she has a private health insurance, so as to ensure that everyone has an access to the health service in need, thus ensuring a health population.

jcmicallef

May 29th 2009, 08:32

People should stop saying 'how much the health service is costing the government' becasue it's not costing the governemnt anything - it costs US, taxpayers.

The government is ther to manage things to the best benefit of the people - or have we forgotten that? But socialist 'Government-always-thinks-for-you-mentality' remains, it seems.

As a hard working and honest tax paying citizen, i do not expect to be treated differently from anyone else. Not coming from a wealthy or rich family, I worked hard to get where I am, and I'm quite sure that if I did it, then everybody can.

God knows how many 'poor' people I subsidise with my taxes and NI. Most of these (excluding the elderly and the REALLY sick and disabled) are probably taking me, all those like me and the government for a ride.

It is amazing how governments first do their utmost to create a monster (like the social service system that encourages people not to work or a mentality that the Government is your 'mummy') and then add insult to injury with some silly report like this.

Nothing is free - someone is always paying. It's mismanagement that screws everything up.

joseph mallia

May 29th 2009, 07:44

So according to you Mr Muscat will give you your vat back, free optimal healthcare, increases for all sectors , lowest bills in EU for Water and elec, and basically everything your hearts desire. Oh..i forgot to mention less taxes too. Maybe Joseph Muscat is really thinking of uttering that magic phrase of the 80's.......'jew b'xejn jew xejn '. Time will tell.

Michael Neville Cassar

May 28th 2009, 23:22

I am sorry, but on this one You messed it up. It is very hard to believe that health system will remain free. When such waiting list is present, when we remember what Minister Dalli use to say, when there are no beds in the hospital, when we finish with no polyclinics.

Matthew Frendo

May 28th 2009, 22:48

@ Roberto - the world economy is on its knees, that is why we had another downward revision, but for labour recession might be non-existent since it wants refund on vat re:cars instead of investing to safeguard jobs!

Two - W&E was revised eventually but maybe ONE TV didn't mention this!

Three - SOME DECIDED TO QUOTE THE WORDS 'THOSE MOST IN NEED' AND TRIED TO CAST DOUBT - LET'S NOT BE SILLY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOT EVERYONE MAKES USE OF THE CLINIC SINCE PEOPLE MAKE USE OF PRIVATE GP'S IN ORDER TO KEEP A CONSTANT FOLLOW UP WITH THEIR GP OF PREFERENCE, UNLIKE THE CLINICS OF WHICH THE GP IS ACCORDING TO ROSTER. ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS A FACT HOWEVER THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY A GP EVERYTIME THEY GO AND YES, WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEM!

FOUR- SPIZJAR TA L-GHAZLA TIEGHEK HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW AND ONCE COMPLETED SHOULD EXPAND.

FIVE - LET'S NOT FORGET HOWEVER THAT ALL HEALTH IS FUNDED FROM OUR TAXES, NOTHING COMES AS FREE

J. Gatt

May 28th 2009, 22:45

Gonzi qal li ma ddiskutewhx ir-rapport fil-kabimett. Issa qed jghidu li iddiskutewh.
GONZI... HAWWADNI HA NIFMEK.

Patrick Cilia

May 28th 2009, 22:08

@ Mr. Calleja...You need to correct YOUR English..."You are making things worse...not WORST" and to all those who turn things round...it is really is difficult to know what people here want. Would you rather YOU paid for services or do you want services paid for from public funds we all contribute to? What i will say, I prefer the second, it is fair as long as everyone contributes and that there is no abuse of the system! This is my money you are using when you abuse the system. We need to be more civic minded and RESPONSIBLE!!! One more thing, there goes another porky by JM..first the clip at the meeting for hunters now this dud in the mud!!!

Gerald Xuereb

May 28th 2009, 21:16

Labour Party never change..... always and always negative! Show respect to the people and dont treat them as stupids! Believe me they are not and always make the right choice!

Tony Borg

May 28th 2009, 20:41

Here we go....now it's official.

"The government disagreed with a proposal made in the report for health centres to close. It felt the health centres should remain open in order to continue to provide their services for free for those most in need."

This means that those who are not "most in need" would have to start paying. To all the middle class......get out your cheque book and pay up!!!

v.vella

May 28th 2009, 20:40

If this statement carries the same wieght the many written promises that gonzipn dished
out like passtizzi then we better prepare ourselves for a nasty surprise.We all know that
the opposite to what was promised occurred.unfortunely for the country the gonzipn
credibility has Gone with the wind.

carmel zammit

May 28th 2009, 20:36

the health services is a complex one and takes a very big slice of the budget.every one knows how much the hospital cost.but maybe few realise that to run it around 200 million euros yearly are needed.these will have to come out of the people s taxes which makes the statement of free health service a mith.besides we have to give our services to people from the eu(and vice versa) plus the illegal immigrants when they require treatment as they are also human beings too .and the more we expand our specialities (which is healthy) the more money has to be pumped in..ppl expectations are high who is to blame them ? they are taxed heavily

Anthony Magri

May 28th 2009, 20:23

Health services will remain free! That's the Government speaking once
Before the elections: Gonzi speaking on behalf of his government, wrote for hundred even thousand times that the D'Yard workers had their job secured and their work appreciated and the D'yard will not be closed. . Come the time after the election the D'Yard was closed and the workers forced to resign. after thousand promises.
Who speaks with a forked tongue is not to be believed.
Once it has been decided within closed doors, then one has only the past to rely on. The past showed the Government doing just the opposite of what it said. So people of good mind will not believe what the government is saying only once; they will expect the opposite.
- Gonzipn and company you have lost your credibility. The people will remember on the 6th June the nearest date, then not far off on judgment day.
Thousand times versus once, thousand prevail.

Roberto Vella

May 28th 2009, 19:47

Is this the same government that promised us growth in the economy only for the CBM to revise downwards our economic performance once again? Or perhaps the same government that decided on a golf course in xaghra l hamra only to change its mind? Or the same government that promised to lower W&E surcharge & bills if oil prices went down but then used every imaginable excuse not to do so? Or the same government that proclaimed it identified sikka l bajda for offshore windfarms but then changed its mind on this too?

Bet once the elections are over it will change its mind yet again and decide to start charging for health care after all! Mind you let us not forget that this is the same government that increased VAT by 20% to supposedly build a fund to finance health care costs. Where are these funds now that we need them?

Also note that suddenly PM:
admitted the report was discussed at cabinet which he previously denied
speaks of "those most in need" so there will not be universal access to free health service

looks like government is playing with words...Gonzipn cannot be trusted

K Grech

May 28th 2009, 19:34

"It felt the health centres should remain open in order to continue to provide their services for free for """"those most in need""""""."

"Those most in need" ...... this is quite interesting statement ....... not to trust again!!

Eeeee, by the way, so this issue was discussed in Cabinet, yeah?!!

I wish that one day we will see a different type of governance!!

steve

May 28th 2009, 19:29

what's the meaning of "those most in need"? what about "those in need"? will they be paying? Where there is smoke, there's fire.

maria curmi

May 28th 2009, 19:27

What happened to choose our own doctor u lispizjar tieghek Gone with the wind

salvu calleja

May 28th 2009, 19:14

HEY!!...Who do you want to FOOL???...Please explain..If the IDEA of payments was discarded from the first report (and let say PPL believed you)….Why didn’t the Gov make it clear that payment in all medical services should not be considered at all cost in the 2nd report….PLS STOP TREATING US AS WE ARE STUPID……UNBELIEVABLE……..YOU ARE MAKING THINGS WORST…….

J.Borg

May 28th 2009, 19:08

health centres should remain open in order to continue to provide their services for free for those most in need.


the above statement seems a bit fishy....as far as i know anyone can go not those most in need......