Health Minister Joe Cassar denied in Parliament that the Government lacked strategic vision or was rushing the St Philip’s Hospital process.
Speaking during Monday’s debate on the hospital, he said the plans for a rehabilitation hospital of some 280 beds were announced in the PN electoral programme. This was not a political move and the need for a new rehabilitation hospital arose because people were living longer.
What were the Opposition’s plans? Was it going to transform St Luke’s Hospital into an acute hospital with 500 beds?
He said the Opposition had no plans whatsoever while the Government showed it had deliberated upon national health through various studies and consultations.
Dr Cassar said patients’ care was the issue at the forefront and the Government always sought to bring the best care possible at all costs. It was not right to accuse the Government of being wasteful.
Through the purchase of St Philip’s Hospital, the Government would be able to provide a rehabilitation bed at €20 a day when this costs €250 in other European countries. The Government had created around 800 new beds for the elderly.
He said even the nurses at the Karen Grech rehabilitation centre were eager to make the move. Was the PL’s opposition to the purchase political?
Converting the 500 beds at St Luke’s Hospital into a rehabilitation hospital would cost the Government €39.6 million. The place was too big and would cost more than purchasing St Philip’s 280 beds. Building a new centre near St Vincent de Paul Residence would amount to €53 million.
Minister Cassar said that initially physical rehabilitation currently being offered at Karin Grech Hospital and at Mater Dei Hospital would be transferred to St Philip’s Hospital, once this was bought.
This would increase the amount of beds available for geriatric treatment at Karen Grech Hospital.
Why did the issue arise now, 24 months after the start of the process? Was it because the PL sought to gain votes by turning this into a political issue?
On a point of order, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that he had requested the debate because the Cabinet had not been informed about the deal and therefore a discussion was vital before the lease agreement was signed.
Minister Cassar concluded the Cabinet had endorsed the deal earlier this month. The PN worked as a team under one leader.