I say "lucky her!" to Gabriella Agius (January 11) who's letter was titled Reform Will Improve Patient Care. I am all for reform in primary health care but let's face it, it's not that easy to have a personal doctor who has seen you "change, grow and develop", as she puts it. It depends on many things and one must be very lucky indeed to have a practitioner who is ready to call day and night come rain or shine (Sundays and public holidays included).

"If he/she (the family doctor) does not provide, then one ought to use the rules of the market and change the practitioner". I wish things were that simple. But things simply do not work like that, at least not where I come from. I am pleased but surprised when Ms Agius states that "whenever health complications have arisen throughout the night my doctor has always been there to answer my telephone calls and when necessary make the extra trip to come and check the problem". Now, how many people can say the same? I would count myself lucky indeed if I could find a doctor during the night! In fact one of the problems facing the government is the issue of 24-hours standby, as Ms Agius correctly stated.

Let's be realistic: some villages just do not have the luxury of having local practitioners who are ready to see to one's every need, especially in the middle of the night.

She goes on to write that "it is extremely praiseworthy that my doctor will now be my gatekeeper for services that he deems necessary for my secondary care and would have the responsibility to liaise with specialists at secondary level". I cannot see how this is going to work if one is in need of a doctor and cannot find one.

Still, I'm a positive man and I feel sure that when the above problems are ironed out, with a little good will from all concerned, we shall have a primary health care system which makes Malta proud.