Free healthcare: a problem both parties must live with
Free healthcare is a problem both parties must live with, says Labour candidate Franco Mercieca in an interview published in The Sunday Times today.
The Gozitan ophthalmologist also believes that the islands must be bridged.
See excerpts in video above. See full text in The Sunday Times.
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B. Farrugia
Jan 15th, 20:26
I would not say free health care is a problem, but a blessing.
Richard Farrugia
Jan 14th, 15:51
Free Health care is possible if we adopt the French Health Service which the WHO considers as the best. In a nutshell all treatment and associated medical treatment is provided free but the clients pay nominals and the professionals are reimursed the rest by the state.Gozo is an ideal niche for private clinics and hospitals provided that professional establish their practice there.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 14th, 11:12
It is undeniable that Malta provides free medicines and free hospital treatments that are not provided by richer countries. Individual cases of dissatisfaction do not alter facts. Is is also a fact that there is a limit to what governments/taxpayers can contribute for the free supply of new expensive drugs still in the experimental stage. The limiting factor is not the sky - it is the taxpayer.
Mel Holmes
Jan 13th, 18:57
What free health care? My son and his wife had to pay all the medical costs involved both pre-natal and post-natal, when they had their child, even though they were both Maltese residents and both working. They are also both EU citizens and should therefore qualify for "like-for-like" free healthcare: They didn't get any help at all from the health system or social services.
Saviour Aquilina
Jan 13th, 15:44
beda iberqa.......ghall pl
Josephine Muscat
Jan 13th, 15:41
Can't all realize the heavy cost each government has to supply to support free health and yet in the meantime both are saying that this will be kept..... But if a government asses own expense and try to take the best out of the capital invested.... It won't be a bad Idea for us all and out country's financial position!!!!
Doreen Camilleri
Jan 13th, 15:32
Free health care to a certain extent.....considering the long waits for an appointment and then the long wait at the hospital to be seen by different doctors......the attitudes.......then to be told to go and see your GP when you phone to say that you are still in pain especially because of the year long wait too much damage has been done for a successful outcome- albeit all the NI paid!!
Joe M Borg
Jan 13th, 19:33
At least you are not charged 50c every time you see a 'free' doctor, albeit all the NI paid!
Doreen Camilleri
Jan 13th, 21:36
@ Joe M. Borg. No i pay €15 not .50c. but my comment was about 'free' healthcare - not politics! Some of us see other colours not only red or blue..
anthony sultana
Jan 13th, 15:15
Yes free healthcare is a big problem,it should be national insurance, it is a lot better ,because yourself will choose which doctor you want,not the government.I pay my own insurance, but it cost me to much bacause it is privat,that's the reason why it should be national insurance,25 euros a month will be reasonable,but you will be treated better for sure,your health is inportant.
GL Calleja
Jan 13th, 14:23
Please stop calling it FREE healthcare. Healthcare is very expensive and cost a lot of TAX PAYER's money. Why do you think that the deficit is becoming unbearable and so high? Why do you think that taxes are so high? Why not ask Dr Cassar how much cost has to go into Mater Dei everyday?Most people are paying dearly for that FREE healthcare, the rest is added to the deficit.Nothing is FREE in life.
Joe M Borg
Jan 13th, 19:34
It has always been REALLY free under PN, because under PL, you had to pay 50c every time you see a 'free' doctor. Stop complaining.
Robert Agius
Jan 14th, 07:40
That was a good incentive by PL, kept the hypochondriacs with nothing better to do at home.
Ruben Mifsud
Jan 13th, 14:01
Quote... The future is more Private/Public partnership... Ara dawn in-nies vera ma jafux jisthu!!
1.. Wara dik il kritika kollha mill PL ghax il gvern ghamel Private/Public partnership issa jghidu li irrid ikun hemm aktar!!
2.. Bhal li kieku bil Private/Public partnership, il privat jghati is servizz b'xejn u mhux il gvern stess irrid ihallas ghalih!!
S Borg
Jan 13th, 18:43
Kindly not that such partnership was started by the Saint’s administration when Cardiac operations where subcontracted out to the private sector (Capua Hospital, Sliema). It came to end after 20 interventions when he lost the elections.
As for cost kindly note that it turns out cheaper to have them in private since the cost of the same operation in MDH is more so.
maria aquilina
Jan 13th, 13:45
I too believe that health care cannot remain free FOR ALL.Even free medicine cannot remain FREE FOR ALL.those in the higher income bracket can pay for services rendered.The party who gets elected has to face the problem.something has to be done,it is useless to promise heaven on earth when such thing cannot exist.The problem exists also in tertiary education.It must be free for low income families
Ruben Mifsud
Jan 13th, 13:00
Wow really?? ooo never thought of it , that free health care is a problem for every Goverment... Under GonziPN in goverment we have it, no one can deny it, If Joseph Muscat.com be in power will we still have it?? Thanks Mr.Franco Mercieca for telling us, as most of us can read between the lines!! Heq, to have cheaper utility bills money have to be denied from someting else hux!!
Charles Muscat
Jan 13th, 12:27
Malta cannot afford free medication and free hospital but the vote counts.
Richard Caruana
Jan 13th, 12:13
Beda jberraq!
Pilloli b'xejn addio? Kontijiet ta' l-isptar? Mhux ahjar jghidilna sew dan xirid?
Adrian P. Cassar
Jan 13th, 16:54
Any intelligent person knows that free healthcare is a big hurdle for any government.
If you cannot see that, then you should go back to school.
Greece are only getting their healthcare system in order after going bankrupt!! Is that what you desire Richard? Would you be protesting then?
Joe M Borg
Jan 13th, 19:38
Dr Mercieca 'cannot' tell us NOW whether PL will introduce any charge on health, because truth will cost votes. THAT will come later, like Sant's tax on health.
T Mifsud
Jan 13th, 12:00
So for PL free health care is a PROBLEM. It was expected as PL has a history of inventing a charge for something that is free in health care. This is an ALARM!
gaetano attard
Jan 13th, 12:57
free health care was introduse by the PL, and the PN was against it, so for sure if it comes again with money
the PN will make it that way.
a.g.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 13th, 15:38
PL happened also to introduce free healthcare in Malta. Why speak half-truths? Free healthcare is a problem to all. With regards to the payment of 50c for free drugs which the MLP had introduced to control waste, the present government has found out a more cunning way of controlling the expenditure i.e. that of letting quite a number of medicines to run out of stock! Is that moral or ethical?
T Mifsud
Jan 13th, 18:26
Free healthcare should be untouched! The PN has assured this. Talk of problems on free health care by Labour are unwelcome!
Mario Borg
Jan 13th, 11:22
If it wasn't for the nationalist party:
1. Coming from a working class family you wouldn't have probably graduated as a doctor in the first place
2. If you still manage to graduate you would probably still be working in the uk
3. You wouldn't be making money from your private practice
Doctors should nowadays be thankful for having the PN for 25 years in government
Josephine Muscat
Jan 13th, 11:55
I do assume ure joking.......Jesus.....it was the Labour Party under DomMintoff who set us free education for one and all.
Emanuel Bajada
Jan 13th, 12:13
get your facts right. 1.Keeping to a comment Chris Said passed to Franco on TVHemm last Friday, Franco must have graduated during the Labour Administration. 2.after Franco's sacrifice in the Uk, he would have been a 100 times better staying in the UK than returning to Malta to give his professional service to his fellow citizens. 3.N/a.
The country should be grateful to Doctors like Franco
Kenneth Williams
Jan 13th, 12:28
Nahseb li ma kontx tezisti fis 70 ta ghax jien niftakar li biex tidhol l universita ghal tabib irid ikollok missierek tabib. Ghax l universita ma kienietx b xejn ta. Hallina b min trid tidhak..
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 13th, 15:41
PS: previous PN government voted both against free education for all, as well as against the student-worker scheme and stipends! Thank you Dom Mintoff and MLP!
S Borg
Jan 13th, 18:52
For you information:-
1-It was MLP who introduced free university to all. PN voted against.
2-Many have left the Maltese service and stayed in the UK in the last 25 due to lack of career progression prospects.
3-Most of the consultants in service today graduated during MLP years.
Victor Vella
Jan 13th, 11:15
So free health care is a problem is it?is this the new labour we have been hearing about.So I will not pay high bills for water and electricity when I am able to work and earn money , but then pay through my nose for health care when I cannot earn money. If I am going blind and I am poor will Franco Mercieca help me for free? What is JM going to say about this?
Warren Griscti
Jan 13th, 11:58
What he means is that all of us are used to free health and thats how it has to stay because no one will accept any paying for health. Thats what he means not that pl will introduce money to health
Ruben Mifsud
Jan 13th, 13:07
@ Warren Gristi
Were did he say that?? or was it a "Freudian Slip" by Mr Mercieca??
R. Cilia
Jan 13th, 14:28
Read this Victor Vella before you blabber
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110731/local/Free-health-care-for-all-is-unsustainable-.378034
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 13th, 15:47
Why do PN and Gonzi PN bloggers jump to erroneous conclusions and misinformation? Is this what Gonzi means when he talks of ethics and morality? In that case no wonder that they have practically disappeared these past 25 years! Repent berore it is too late! Get out of darkness and see the light!
Mark Anthony Vassallo
Jan 13th, 11:11
I cannot believe that Joseph Muscat has evolved in regards the EU. He gave his best for us not to be members and even afterwards advised the Icelanders not to join EU. Apart from the fact that the great majority of the people surrounding him and the shadow cabinet are convinced anti-EU supporters. I can never forget him and those who worked against EU
John Zammit
Jan 13th, 14:25
IN 2008 a high official of Alternativa Democratica said the the PN is no longer a EU party
Jon Briffa
Jan 13th, 10:50
will there be a speed camera on the bridge? I would love to see 200km/h on it.
C. Bartoli
Jan 13th, 10:29
Smajtuwa idoqq, ma trid xejn irahhaslek 25% fuq il-kont tad-dawl (200 euro) imbad trid thallsu biex tuzaw l-isptar ux?
carlos ellul
Jan 13th, 11:29
Where exactly did he said that?
Josephine Muscat
Jan 13th, 11:56
I could not see anywhere what ure sayings
David Borg
Jan 13th, 13:44
C Bartoli you are misquoting.
Joseph Camilleri
Jan 13th, 10:28
Wasnt lejber who introduced a one cheap for all system? It is true alfred sant wanted to cut off this parasitistic idea of free health care and he was right. But why should we have a very beautiful and up to date hospital free? This should be on a charge and it would cut down all abuses as well since many dump their old relatives making it an elderly dumping ground? I am for reasonable fees.
Reuben D. Spiteri
Jan 13th, 12:19
Have you gone completely insane?? Are you so much of a blind MLP fan to even agree on fees on public healthcare? Do you even have a clue on how this would hit working and middle class families??
It seems we have an exact repeat of 1996 incoming. Please hurry up and realize this everyone!
D. A . Agius
Jan 13th, 15:20
Actually it's not free. I see my tax bill and I feel like crying... but on the other hand, I'd prefer hearing about how government would battle a black economy where non-wage earners might not be pitching in their "real" contribution.
On the other hand as well, like the operator of a private hospital recently said, why do insurance companies want you to go to a public hospital, and pay you ?
Francis Sammut
Jan 13th, 16:22
I agree with you, Mr. Camilleri. As it is, free health care and free education for all, even to those who can afford them, is simply unsustainable and a waste of money. Starting with myself, though I'm a pensioner, I wouldn't mind if I contribute something for hospital fees, be it for an operation, pills etc. We simply can't go on like this as if there's no tomorrow! It's not as if we were rich.
Please choose the reason of your report below: