Updated: Patients should be central to health care policy - minister

(Adds MAM's reaction)

The health care system has been rotating around the needs of those who provided the service and not around the needs of patients, Social Policy Minister John Dalli said this afternoon.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Pensioners’ Association of the General Workers’ Union, the minister said everyone knew what happened when he tried to shift doctors working in quiet shifts to busier ones. The doctors went on strike because they were more comfortable working the night shift.

Mr Dalli said that this change was just the tip of the iceberg but although it was not easy, he would continue insisting that changes took place.

“The government is not running a business for profit, we have to work for shorter queues and waiting lists for a better service.,” he said, adding that Malta had one of the best health care services in the world.

In a statement issued this evening, the Medical Association of Malta expressed its satisfaction on the positive appreciation of the work of the medical profession, in particular family doctors at health centres, by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi last wednesday but said that Mr Dalli had a completely different point of view.

All doctors were finding Mr Dalli's view "deeply offensive and most unfair".

"This confrontational attitude singling out the mediccal profession does not augur well fo the future of the health service," they said.

On pensions, the minister said that one could not allow people on a pension to live at risk of poverty after working a whole lifetime.

However, a clear balance had to be made between providing a good quality of life and not burdening the employees with taxes to sustain the pension system.

The government forked out €1,250 million for social services. This amounted to 43 percent of the country’s entire expenditure.

A lot needed to be improved but changes could be made to provide a better service without increasing taxes.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said it was not fair that people who could afford private health service made use of this while others had to wait on long lists. Solutions could be found if the problem was discussed and a plan was drawn up.

On medicine prices, he said these should reflect the standard of living. The price of medicine in the EU was much lower than in Malta, he said.