Treatment to Libyans not putting Maltese at risk - minister
One of the injured Libyans being transferred from a military aircraft to an ambulance at the airport. File photo
The Libyans coming to Malta for treatment are not putting the health of Maltese people in jeopardyt, Health Minister Joe Cassar said this morning.
These patients, he said, were neither increasing the waiting time for people using the Emergency Department.
Speaking during a dialogue meeting in Mosta, Dr Cassar said that the ITU and the Emergency Department had separate entrances.
So it was not a question of the Libyans in ITU increasing the waiting time for people wanting to use the Emergency Department.
Non-ITU Libyan patients, he said, were being taken to St James Hospital for treatment.
Dr Cassar said that Labour did not say anything about the situation initially and when it finally did, it came to the wrong conclusion because it said that the waiting period for patients using the Emergency Department had increased.
He said that this was a mature government and it could take the right decisions.
He referred to criticism that he took his time before taking decisions.
"I think before I take decisions, I do not just decide, like others before me have done," he said.
Dr Cassar said that as a doctor, he had seen a lot but nothing had prepared him for the injuries of these war patients
Their situation had made him very emotional and he had been close to fainting when he saw them get off the plane on their arrival in Malta.
"When I see a brother wounded to the extent that his head and stomach are open, should I let them be because there are people in corridors?...
"I do not think those who are criticising us know what we are dealing with," he said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi also spoke about the situation in Libya and said that the Maltese had passed their test by taking the right, if risky decisions.
Imagine had the country taken a position in favour of Gaddafi, he would have had to hide head in shame, he said.
"Now I can look back and say I have nothing to be ashamed of. The Maltese did all they could do and this is something even Libya's National Transitional Council has recognised."
The new Libyan leaders, Dr Gonzi said, respected Malta for the humanitarian role it had played.
"There is reciprocal appreciation between Libya's new leaders and the Maltese government.
"We can now work together so that both countries can progress in different areas," he said.
Dr Gonzi said that he will lead the political/business delegation to Libya as soon as the new government is formed.
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Update 2: Libyan mercy flight put off because of lack of ITU space; Use of St Luke's under consideration -
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Lino Busuttil
Oct 4th 2011, 13:25
Malta should always help people in need. Libyans are our neighbours and we should be on the forefront unconditionally helping out. Thumbs up for the governement on this one for making this clear. What I could not understand is the lack of anticipation on this situation from the authorities and Minister himself who could have easily planned for more than a make shift Hospital at St Luke's months ago.
mark borg
Oct 2nd 2011, 22:25
@Paul Cave : What Christians are you refering to?because as far as I know Christians massacared and persecuated the Arabs for so many centuries,so please do not try to dramatise because people are concerned we are inundated with illegal immigrants and now Arabs .Christianity and religion have nothing to do and for sure not to set an example on them .Yes the big majority of Malteese are against their money spent on foreigners and whoever is not ,should put his money where his mouth is and volonteer to double or triple their tax rates.Then we see where all their BLA BLA BLA and probaganda ends up.
Mr James Rizzo
Oct 2nd 2011, 19:49
Mintoff jonqsu jibda jikteb hawn. Aktar ma naqra aktar nikkonvinxi ruhi li is-socjalisti baqghu l-istess.
mark borg
Oct 2nd 2011, 22:00
Is socialisti importanti li jibqu li stess u jhekk minalik li qed toffendi lil xi hadd gharralek, ghax fuq kollox is sistema ta sahha b xejn is socialisti dahhlu Malta u il-PN ivvota bi hgaru fil Parlament kontriha kien fis 70's . Jigifieri dil publicita li minghalih qed jghamel ghal ispejjez tal haddiema Maltin li jhallsu it Taxxa il gvern tal PN illum, hija kollha bis sahha tas is sistema tas socjalisti, li int minghalik qed toffendi ghax tghidilhom socialisti .Nghatik parir tfittex naqra fuq l internet u titghalem xi jgifieri socialismu ghax bil garanzija li l anqas biss bdejt tifhem il bidu tal kelma.Jhek ma tafx il gvern prezenti meta qed ikun Socialist ma l-gharab meta qed joffrilhom l-isptar bxejn.Dan bhala principju tajjeb kieku, pero mhux meta qed tghaffeg li Maltin li hallsu ghomorrhom il bollol u it taxxi.
Carmel Cilia
Oct 3rd 2011, 06:23
James rizzo is-socjalisti baqghu l-istess jahdmu u jiggieldu kuljum ghal bicca talhobz. L-akbar socjalist siehbi kien Gesu Kristu li qasam il-hobz u l-inbid u tah lil-kulhadd. Illlum il-kapitalisti shabek regu refghu raqshom il-fuq(sakemm il- haddiem jghid dawshekk taf imbad kulhadd denbhu bejn saqajh) u jidrilhom li hu dritt taghhom li jasru lil haddiem u minfuq bhalek jajruh. Imsieken inthom u kulmin jahseb b'halkom-Jekk tharsu naqra lejn in nofsinhar tkunu tafhu x'kapaci jaghmel meta jrid il- haddiem u il-baxx siehbi.
Mr carlos ellul
Oct 3rd 2011, 07:46
And same old PN who puts the foreigners interest first as usual. Like for example by signing the Dublin 2 treaty which made Malta the unofficial detention center of the EU. At least they change the tune regarding the Libyans. They are not 'tal habbaziz' anymore.
Mario Grima
Oct 3rd 2011, 07:53
People like you who are still living in the past and who try to twist the truth because of their political bias cannot tackle a valid argument. If you care to look at the history books you will note that Social benefits, including free health services were introduced by the socialists, with the PN voting against such a proposal.
The PN is trying to take political mileage out of the misery of the Libyan people and at the same time ignoring the Maltese people's rights where it concerns their health issues. Yes, we need to help the Libyans, but first, charity begins at home. This is how the PN alienates people of your ilk .
Francis Coquelin
Oct 2nd 2011, 17:15
Sa certu punt nifhem li wara kwart ta' seklu fl-oppozizzjoni, il-partitarji tal-MLP ghandhom certu genn biex ikunu fil-gvern. Imma li tasal biex tikkundanna din l-amministrazzjoni ghax qed jigu ftit pazjenti Libjani, uhud minnhom tfal jew nies civili feruti gravi, fiha x'wiehed jahseb. Izjed u izjed meta dawn il-pazjenti gejjin minn pajjiz fejn min kien imexxi qabel xeba jissussidja lil MLP jew gvernijiet Laburista biex ikunu jistaw jiftahru kemm waqqfu servizzi socjali fis-snin 70.
Noel Mifsud
Oct 3rd 2011, 12:36
Ma tafx x int tghid idahqani narak tikteb nhekk l istess bhal ma jaghmel NetNews. Qed tmorru izjed minn 25 sena ghax lPL kien habib ma Gaddafi u mhux qed tiftakru li fi Frar li ghadda Gonzi PN mar jiltaqgha ma Gasddafi, ezatt gimghatejn qabel ir riviluzzjoni. Jine ghalija it tnejn ta l istess keffa, imma biex insemmu ta 26 sena ilu u ma nsemmux ta 7 xhur ilu veru redikoli intom ta. U issa fuq li qal il MInistru jien kelli bzonn operazzjoni fis 2005 u ghamilta wara 3 xhur, fi zmien il PN, sptar tat tielet dinja, u illum ghandi bzonn nerga l istess operazzjoni u illum fi zmien il PN, sptar fi state of the art ili minn novembru nistenna. MHux imaqdar xejn nikkritika biss. Nahseb li hemm differenza. Issa nispera li dawn il libjani kif qal is Sur Cassar ma jaqbzux il kju, ghax dawn l istess nies, wara l hafna hibiberija, hobza u sikkina, libjani u maltin ahwa, morna infittxu ghaz zejt u gew jattakwani. Charity begins at home u hadd ma jajdlek ahsel wiccek biex tkun ahajr minni.
Mr Hans Borg
Oct 2nd 2011, 17:01
The PN are taking a political ride on the back of Libya's National Transitional Council by turning the aid being given to this grief-stricken nation into a political vote-snatcher. May I remind GonziPN that it was not him and or the PN that was helping these people, it was all the citizens of Malta. It was our duty to do so. GozniPN should remember that Libya's National Transitional Council are not obliged to get down on their hands-and-knees (and right down into their oil wells) to thank Malta for doing its duty. I am saying this because, as in all previous general elections, the PN invariably always re-start 'ser inhaffru ghaz-zejt' saga.
Kenneth Galea
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:29
Joe Cassar and Gonzi stop taking us for a ride. Mater Dei can barely cater for the needs of the Maltese patients let alone foreigners who have NO right for free medical treatment in Malta.
When a patient has to wait an hour or less at A&E then I might start to believe in what you say.
This is all to please the international community at the expense of the Maltese tax payer.
Martin Agius
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:53
Your anti-foreigner and "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollhox" comments are in the best tradition of Mintoffian politics. How your party failthful must be proud of you right now! Keep these comments coming to remind those who would not vote PN just what a Labour-run country might look like.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Oct 2nd 2011, 16:58
I am sure Malta is being paid to do this. WE all know that in Malta, nothing is for free. Libyans have a big reserve fund here. BUt I still think that a floating or field hospital should be set up in LIyba by the Americans, British and French who were involved in this war.
Paul Cave
Oct 2nd 2011, 20:01
Lovely Christian attitude, Kenneth. Well done, your priest will be proud of you!
Glen Micallef
Oct 2nd 2011, 20:04
Mr. Agius, the "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox" adage is appropriate at all times and in all situations. It is the way in which every person who is proud of his country thinks and acts, including countries such as the USA and UK which we look up to. Better "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox" than "il-Partit l-ewwel u qabel kollox", as your comment seems to suggest.
Carmel Cilia
Oct 3rd 2011, 06:16
@Martin Agius the Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox has now been replace with 'Ahna l-ewwel u qabel kollox u morru saqqu il-hass tal-Ex Marsa ghax ahna ghandna dritt divin li niehdu l-ahhjar f'kollox uqabel kulhadd.
Andy Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:06
"The Libyans coming to Malta for treatment are not putting the health of Maltese people in jeopardy or increasing the waiting time of people using the Emergency Department, Health Minister Joe Cassar said this morning."
Dear Minister, it depends what you mean by words like "in jeopardy" and " increasing the waiting time". We have come to a situation when we cannot even understand each other when we communicate using the same language. From my personal experience, last Friday 30th September, a 92 year old woman suffering from dehydration and weakness, was kept at emergency on a stretcher from 4.30 pm in the afternoon to half past one of Saturday morning - a total of NINE hours lying on a two inch mattress of the stretcher, no wonder she complained about aching bones - and even then, it took a relative of hers quite some time to convince the hospital personnel to find her a bed. Finally, a bed was found in a men's ward at the Observation section, as relative was told that all the beds were full. I am not blaming either the hospital personnel or the unfortunate Libyan patients, but the Minister should try, for a change, to tell the truth about the situation at Mater Dei Emergency Department.
J Degabriele
Oct 2nd 2011, 19:13
This is all true. I can confirm it because i was there. Our hospital is bursting at the seams. I cannot understand how the old St Luke's coped. When one had to go to hospital at the time of St Luke's one felt a sense of comfort for things could only get better, but now one only feels dread if in need of the Emergency dept at Mater Dei. I've had to try both and I know what I'm talking about.
r buttigieg
Oct 2nd 2011, 21:39
@j.degabriele.... i tell you why. 'cos the problem was always there but it was a well known secret that 'korsija' was the order of the day. this problem was always there but 'solved' as wards accepted beds in the middle. now they don't hence the wait at the emergency . at st.luke's a 31-bedded ward housed over 40 beds.
pity this was not taken in consideration when building mater dei.
also the mentality that an acute hospital is there to convenienlty leave one's parents just adds to the problem.
Andy Farrugia
Oct 3rd 2011, 14:32
@ r buttigieg
"also the mentality that an acute hospital is there to convenienlty leave one's parents just adds to the problem. "
Don't be so insolent and moronic, r buttigieg. The elderly lady in question is paying 60% of her pension and other assets to receive constant supervised attention in an old people's home and her children visit her daily. Unfortunately, at times, the doctor at the residence has to refer her to mater dei for tests. "Conveniently leave one's parents" my left foot; but we do have these "ornery critters" punching in their inane comments from time to time.
Carmel Cilia
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:06
I Say the minister should feel at least the same compassion for the people he represents i.e the Gozitan citizens who are suffering from cancer and need chemotherapy. Now come winter they have to make the daily trip from gozo to malta and back after receiving chemotherapy which on many occasions reduces the patient in a miserable state. Hypocricy at its best is the least one can say.
victor caruana
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:02
U hallina gonzipn. Mhux meta ir-ribelli dahlu fi Tripli li int gharafthom bhala l-gvern/awtorita gdida tal-libya. hsibtna imbecilli jew???
mark borg
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:00
Dear Dr Gonzi could you kindly explain exacty on what criteria are you (or us Taxpayers) are doing all this,as in the same paragraph you are telling us we must help in any way we could and wiythin the same sentance saying that "We could now work together so that both countries can progress in different areas" My and many other people's question is : Are we doing this because morally we should be doing so ? Or are we doing this for finacial gains ? Please all the apologists replying refraine for telling us both as really the 2 options cannot be accapted in such a case.
John Micallef
Oct 2nd 2011, 14:55
This is not totally correct...
I had my surgery postponed twice last week... the last time it was postponed I was notified only when I checked-in the ward... I was told that this is because no anaesthetist was available. Now this can be either cause of unplanned surgeries or else there is a bigger problem in our state of the art hospital. But if there is really a shortage of staff... how can you get more patients from abroad to be treated here when we cannot even cope with the locals?
Mr Joseph Calleja
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:44
Maybe because treating locals does not generate enough publicity, but since Libya is in the news right now, treating Libyans can produce all the publicity our government needs.
Mr Michael Galea
Oct 2nd 2011, 14:21
yeah right since when did the minister knew what is really going on
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Oct 2nd 2011, 14:20
You have nothing to be ashamed of with Libyans. However you have alot to be ashamed of with Maltese citizens.
Give it some time Dr Gonzi and you will see the result of your choice.
Libya will just be another Somalia
Martin Agius
Oct 2nd 2011, 14:51
Right. I'm sure that eight-year old at St James and the three-year old at Mater Dei are a particularly serious security threat to our nation. Get them out of here as soon as possible before they bring Armageddon to this country!
Stefan Attard
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:56
Can we expect you to realize the irony of your comment given that Libyan patients are being treated at a hospital belonging to your former political leader?
j brincat
Oct 2nd 2011, 13:37
"Speaking during a dialogue meeting in Mosta, Dr Cassar said that the ITU and the Emergency Departments had separate entrances"
So we have 'separate entrances'!
WOW what a breakthrough news!!!!.
So what? Although we have separate entrances does it mean that our loved ones do not have to wait for hours on end at the Emergency Department. By' hours on end' I mean 8 hours and over. At least that was my experience and NOT in ONE occasion only.
If I am lying than those who think so let them stand up to be counted.
(jb)
Mr Joseph Calleja
Oct 2nd 2011, 14:57
Well see this is the way it works
The ITU and the Emergency Departments have separate entrances.
Arriva has one door but two separate fares, one for Locals and one for Tourists
Gozo Channel has two separate fares, one for Gozitan residents, and one for Maltese residents.
Gozo Channel has one line for second class citizens and one line for priority boarding.
So Dr Cassar makes sense! oooooooah, ooooooooah. Hallina Guz.
G. Ellul
Oct 2nd 2011, 13:35
Reciprocal appreciation is not enough....Get us a few contracts in the restructuring of Libyan cities, and plenty of barrels of oil for cheap or free!
Mr Victor Calleja
Oct 2nd 2011, 13:20
If the ITU department has separate entrances but still one ITU. What kind of reasoning is this. Is it true or false that three Maltese patients had to be removed from ITU to accommodate foreign patients? So it does not matter how many entrances ITU has. The number of beds count and if I am not mistaken about 20.
Charity begins at home or not?
Martin Agius
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:17
Charity begins at home? Tell that to the three-year old or the eight-year old who had to cross a sea to receive urgent care.
Joe Pavia
Oct 2nd 2011, 13:10
Dr. Cassar why does it have to take from 6 pm till 3 am to see a patient suffering from Chest pains at the Emergency Ward at the State of the Art Hospital Mater dei? Why do the stuff especially the clerical staff have to be so abrupt and rude to patients? Amazing how things are going from bad to worst. I do not mind helping these poor Libyans but CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME DR CASSAR.
G G Debono
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:00
Because we have enough money to spend 2.8M euros (or is it more?) on a a bridge going nowhere at the Valletta Breakwater (not to mention the odd 90 M euros in the parliament on stilts ) but not enough to employ more carer, paramedical staff and doctors at the hospital.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Oct 2nd 2011, 13:09
How can we be sure of this. .......................when we hear people on waiting list and people in corridors
Martin Agius
Oct 2nd 2011, 15:16
No one needing emergency treatment has been put on a waiting list or treated in a corridor. I wonder how your conscience can allow you to say something like this when small children are being brought from Libya for urgent care.
Joe Pavia
Oct 3rd 2011, 08:35
Visit the Emergency ward and one can see.
M. Bezzina
Oct 2nd 2011, 12:56
jekk ma tidholx il politika f kull ma naghmlu ma nkunux ahna!!!Anka jekk naslu biex nghinu lil xi hadd ukoll nipprovaw indahhlu l politka unbelievable go dil gzira man!!!