Labour would set maximum waiting times for operations - Muscat
Labour would set maximum waiting times for operations - Muscat Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
A Labour government would introduce a health charter that would set maximum waiting times for operations and allow patients to receive treatment in private hospitals at the government’s expense if these targets were not kept, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Addressing a news conference outside Mater Dei Hospital, Dr Muscat said this measure, which he expected to be in place within a year, was in anticipation of the EU cross-border directive, which would allow patients to seek treatment they could not obtain in their country in other EU states.
The PL, he said, would also introduce a system for delivering medicine to elderly over 70, the severely disabled and people who were immobile to their homes. The medicines would be delivered by professionals, such as retired nurses.
A Labour government would increase primary health care expenditure by €8 million, it would modernise and expand health centres and open new ones in areas such as Zurrieq.
The PL would also spend €1 million more on Gozo General Hospital and would modernise the procurement of the free medicines system.
Dr Muscat criticised the government’s proposal for people entitled to free medicine to get this from the private sector against a refund when it was out of stock.
The government, he said, was deceiving the people because it was not telling them it would only be giving them the wholesale, and not the retail, price. Moreover, it did not create an incentive for the government to keep medicine in stock.
Asked if a new Labour government would build another hospital, Dr Muscat said that although it was a fact that there was lack of space at Mater Dei, Labour was not looking to create another building site.
Asked about St Philip’s he said that Labour did not have any agreement with anyone and he had not spoken to hospital owner Frank Portelli in six months. However, he was not excluding a deal with him or with anyone else.
The PL’s priorities were different to the government’s so, if elected, it would see what was on the table and work from there.
Labour’s proposals, he said, would come into play in the budget for next year.
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A. Mizzi
Feb 1st, 21:12
Now that is the WAY FORWARD.... and not calling the Ministers to skip the queue.... or for a bed ..or for a room!
Jo Borg
Feb 1st, 20:10
This picture says it all. Further comments are superfluous.
http://www.facebook.com/joborgmalta?ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?fbid=440079839399091&set=a.275562782517465.65133.100001912364823&type=1&theater
Joe Tabone
Feb 1st, 19:57
Joseph Muscat PL Said "...........had not spoken to hospital owner Frank Portelli in six months. However, he was not excluding a deal with him.........." LABOUR = NO CREDIBILITY!
S Sammut
Feb 1st, 19:41
Joseph, where is the full proposal? We want to see it at one go, like PN! Then should you wish, you can explain on a daily basis. Blue tie, blue backgrounds, Where are the red flags ? And what about the new power station project? No one is discussing it any longer? Give us a break will ya?
Henry S Pace
Feb 1st, 18:59
That blue tie needs a good wash.
Its a long time since Joey was with this blue tie.
Richard Farrugia
Feb 1st, 18:45
A real change in the health Service should be modelled on d French Health Service which d WHO considers as best. In a nutshell d people go to any professional, bed in d any hospital, procure d medicinals from any pharmacy - all against a receipt for service rendered and pay their defined share of d cost. D government thereafter settles the rest of d bills Money is saved on health infrastructure
Joe Grech
Feb 1st, 19:02
I like your proposal. But we do have to eradicate Corruption first. it's all over the place!
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 1st, 18:32
A friend of mine is on a waiting list to see an orthopedic surgeon in a private clinic.
What would be the maximum waiting time? if it's 18 weeks as in UK than it's OK...but in UK there are several NHS trusts. In Malta there is one national hospital, with a few small private hospitals. If the wait time is set to 18 weeks the smaller private clinics would not cope. Is max wait time 1 year OK?
Richard Farrugia
Feb 1st, 18:21
Dear Joe, please do not utter more proposals on the health service as the Pharmaceutical and Medical cartels will make you cry. If you are sincere with no strings attached hit at the corruption galore in these sectors. We have a service which is a leap stone to the tresury of these untouchable professionls. Talk to the people making use of the service to point you facts which are unbelievable.
DUNCAN FABRI
Feb 1st, 17:28
Again a focused proposal by pl.
J Martinelli
Feb 1st, 17:56
Indeed! Focused on winning the election at all costs, 'imbaghad naraw'!
Bejn il-paroli w il fatti, hemm bahar jikkumbatti.
J Martinelli
Feb 1st, 16:43
Joseph's proposal is a 'musical chairs' game, no more no less.
OK, so he takes names off the waiting list and puts them ahead of scheduled operations and then the persons who are rescheduled will be put on a waiting list?
Do private hospitals have the capacity to handle any more operations than what they handle now?
Do they have other specialists now not operating at Mater Dei?
Laburisti first?
Mark. Galea
Feb 1st, 16:32
Jigifieri jekk it-tobba ma jlahhqux waqt il-hin tax-xoghol, jistghu jaghmlu l-operazzjonijiet wara l-hin tax-xoghol mal-privat ... hux hekk?
Edgar Gambin
Feb 1st, 17:08
Jista jkun ukoll li t-tobba ma jlahqux apposta biex joperaw l-istess nies fil-privat. Mela paga fissa mal-gvern u paga aktar hoxna mil-privat. U min se jhallas? U l-waiting lists fl-isptar hekk se jitwalu u mhux jonqsu.
Joe Sammut
Feb 1st, 16:15
Joseph, can we see the charter? It should be in the program.
Up to now ALL your pledges lack specifics.
I want to read the program now, so that I can see where my money would be going.
Charlie Tabone
Feb 1st, 16:15
Dr Muscat.....liemha pagna wasalt fil programm li ghandek ippjanat ???
Henry S Pace
Feb 1st, 16:02
Joey seems that every day he throws some cjick-peas. to the public
The electoral programme has not seen the light of the day. WHY/
J Martinelli
Feb 1st, 16:52
Because he is waiting for each NP proposal, then he gets Karmenu to scribble something similar and asks Scicluna to miscalculate the costs. Then he comes out with a fazull plan and stamps his name on it.
Haseb dan Joseph li ha jbellalna ross bil-labra.
PL's tactics have not changed one iota in the last 50 years and with Joseph's leadership, they only got worse - like those in Mintoff's time.
Anthony Falzon
Feb 1st, 15:55
What will the maximum waiting time be....three months or three years ? Or maybe labour will tell us when the time is right ?
George Cutajar
Feb 1st, 15:26
Judging by the number of star candidates present at this morning's press call at Mater Dei I am confirming what I said many months ago - If Labour is elected each and every deputy will be made a minister or parliamentary secretary.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 15:45
Most probably he is dividing MEPA to have two ministers instead of one! I mean he is not going to give an increment to his MPs, he'll just make them all Ministers! That should silence them I guess!
Godfrey Zammit
Feb 1st, 17:11
The only star candidates are on the side of PN, getting 500 euro a week behind your back. From all these stars we got a never ending waiting list at Mater Dei, no jobs at Smart city, no jobs at White Rocks, high deficit, inflation record and high electricity bills. After 5 years Gonzi is telling us about his new proposals which he will be delivering by Arriva if in power. Fl-AHHAR SIBNA Z-ZEJT.
Andre Ellul
Feb 1st, 15:14
Hasn't Muscat proposed to cut on bureaucracy? Well, the proposal of introducing a call center runs counter to his initial proposal.
Andre Ellul
Feb 1st, 15:08
Is this proposal written in the electoral programme?
Kimberly Farrugia
Feb 1st, 15:07
Sour grapes much? Well done PL for these proposals which benefit mostly those in need....a breath of fresh air indeed!
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 15:39
His promises are starting to conflict and you tell him well done! Next thing I know is that Joseph will ask us to give him all our money and you will be first in line shouting "mine first, take my money, mine first"!! I mean if you listening to Joseph - unless you are brain washed - you would have realized that there are conflicts in some of his promises, not saying the how he will deliver promise
Charlie Tabone
Feb 1st, 16:12
he s like feeding the birds everyday.......
whats new on monday??
whats new on tuesday??
whats new on wednesday???
whats on thursday??
and friday??
any other dreams??
M Farrugia
Feb 1st, 14:54
I ilke the blue tie, I wonder if he has thrown away all the red ones.
Nicholas Brincat
Feb 1st, 15:49
that's to show that they are there for everyone, blue and red. Pity they had a candidate yelling that all PN people are a disease to this country, gave their game away prematurely
twanny borg
Feb 1st, 14:40
Kellu bzonn kull elezzjoni tigi kull sena! Imsomma wara naraw manan.....
A Spiteri
Feb 1st, 14:29
Meta hiereg dan l imbierek program elletorali. Suppost kienu qalu li lest u kien hadem fuqu karmenu vella. Mid dehra paroli biss gej.
Denis Pace
Feb 1st, 14:19
Not really reassuring.
What is really strange is that the same consultants who fail to see Mater Dei patients in time, will then be paid again once they go private. Doesn't make sense.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 14:19
Doctors to actually do operations don't just *pop* out of no where! Money to pay for such operations in private companies doesn't just *pop* out of no where! Can Joseph Muscat explain to us - (who unlike lejber diehards do not believe he has any form of super natural powers) - from where he is going to get the doctors? from where he is going to get the money? How will he keep the promises?
Salvu Borg
Feb 1st, 14:12
ilkom tghidu sabiex taraw il-proposti bil-miktub, il-PL qatt ma kien qal "iggudikawna fuq dak li naghmlu mhux li nghidu" tafu ghaliex ghax hemm differenza kbira minn dak li tghidu (hafna gideb ?)ghall dak li taghmlu. IL-PL dak li jghid iwettqu minkejja kull tfixkil li jkollu. Mela insejtu meta tal-PN marru l-Germanja sabiex igerxu l-investiment. Meta jkun il-waqt mhux il-boghod se jkun ippublikat
DC Agius
Feb 1st, 13:50
Proset JM...Inizzjattivi serji, cari u bzonjuzi. Dan il gvern parla hafna u hafna u b'hafna pompa imma fir-realta dawn l-affarijiet li qed issemmi inti qatt ma sar xejn serju fuqhom , U jekk sar, dan ma hadimx. - Min qieghed fis-settur tas-sahha, specjalment il-pazjenzi milqughha, jaf li dawn huma realtajiet.
scott brown
Feb 1st, 13:34
except for the energy proposal which is madness, similar to most of the daily proposals being brought forward by JM, this arrangement is already in place. PL is without a plan, without a manifest, without an electoral programme. the electorate is not an imbecile and at the end of the day will speak with their vote. I will surely not throw away 25 years of tranquil life after 16 years of hell.
Richard Caruana
Feb 1st, 13:16
Maximum waiting times?
Will he build a new hospital and import doctors and surgeons? Or are we into another conflict with doctors that brought this country to shame in Mintoff's time?
Has MAM and MUMN been consulted?
George Cutajar
Feb 1st, 13:07
Once again Labour have no proposals on another hot issue - the health sector. Over the past years we have had JM and his acolytes lambasting the government on this sector and now that they have the opportunity to present their proposals they just rehash what the PN has been doing over the years. S I guess we can take it that the PN have been handling the health sector well. Thank you Labour.
Gilbert Busuttil
Feb 1st, 12:37
How about putting pen to paper on these proposals. One expects an electoral manifesto during an electoral campaign. So far it's just press conferences, bill boards and presentations. Although most people vote blindly blue or red, others actually read the manifestos and base their vote on it. The PN, love it or hate it, published the manifesto. The PL has not. No hurry.
A Tonna
Feb 1st, 13:24
Most of the people do not read the manifesto. Either becaue they are illiterate or do not bother to read it. But if the proosals are made clear with street language, then the majority would understand. Others, just refuse to understand and as you said vote blindly and do not open their eyes. I bet that PN will copy this strategy in the following election!
B Grech
Feb 1st, 13:43
If you were to ask me what the nationalists' electoral manifesto was I'd be able to answer a week ago but now I find myself struggling to remember the details . PL's strategy of explaing each set of proposals day by day is in my opinion much more effective at bringing their message across. Apart from that each set of proposals is focused heavily upon by the media. PN should take note.
Spartacus Sladden
Feb 1st, 13:58
PL is explaining it's proposals slowly on a daily basis WITH COSTINGS... Even like this you still find people who do not understand, imagine if they would have published everything on a manifesto and that is it. So please stop asking for the manifesto by the 8th of March you will surely have it in your hands and another thing on the other hand like this GonziPN can't copy, amend and paste.
A Cuschieri
Feb 1st, 14:50
And sometimes information given during the press conference and billboards doesn't exactly match either.
Victor Borg
Feb 1st, 12:34
This reminds me of the Customer Service Charters displayed prominently in hopsitals, promising that in the "majority of appointments" a patient will be seen within 30 minutes of appointment time. Yet experience proves that in the majority of appointments, we are not in fact seen within 30 minutes. What is needed is an overhaul of the system, not cosmetic changes and hollow promises.
jm busuttil
Feb 1st, 13:13
@ Victor Borg
You are dishonest in you comment and I can challenge you with my own experience this morning.
I was seen within the 30min time frame and within one hour was medicated and re checked.
A big thank you to all the doctors and staff who have to deal with all those patients.
It was my first experience.
If we can wait in a queue abroad why can't we wait for free medical treatment.
Albert Bonello
Feb 1st, 15:55
JM Busuttil, I concur. Everytime I have called at the hospital the visit did not last for more than 1 hour. Well done to all the doctors and nurses and everyone who works their. also a big 'prosit' to the Minister for his work. Well Done and keep it up!!
Frank Borg
Feb 1st, 11:34
HE WAS NOT EXCLUDING A DEAL WITH HIM???? NITLOB LI L PL JICCARA L POZIZZJONI DWAR ST PHILIPS!! ARA TKUN IPPOKREZIJA POLITIKA QAWWIJA JEKK DAN ISEHH
Mario Scicluna
Feb 1st, 12:46
Titlob? Int min int biex titlob spjegazzjoni minghand il-PL? Mort titlob li Gonzi sabiex jispjegalek kif ha €500 minn wara dahrek u dari? Mort titlob spjegazzjoni ghala GonziPN injora 3 proposti ghal pipeline tal-Gas u morna ghal HFO? Tlabt spjegazzjoni ghal kuntratt tal-BWSC u ttiehdu €4 miljun commission? Tlabt ghala ma saritx SmartCity jew Whiterocks?Hallina trid, taghmilx teatrini!
J Mifsud
Feb 1st, 13:05
actually PLwas never against working with the private sector but was against signing a long term contract just before election without divulging the details in parliament and having a vote for. So you can calm down, don't use caps lock and try to watch some other media sometimes and not just net tv.
david xerri
Feb 1st, 13:10
very well said mario scicluna... ;-)
DC Agius
Feb 1st, 14:03
Ma tkun ipokrezija xejn skuzi! Il-PL kull ma ried, u dan bi dritt u b'obbiglu assolut lejna c-cittadini, li jsir kollox bi trasparenza u nkunu nafu x' qed jigri u x'hemm involut. Ipokrezija taf ta' min hi? Ta' min jghid li jaghmel kollox bi trasparenza u kontabilta` u imbaghad kien se jikkri sptar shih, bil-possibilta ta' xiri, kwazi minn wara dar il-poplu u minn wara dar il-parlament.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 14:27
Mario Scicluna, the new lejber does not like your attitude. So either you are not part of the new lejber, or lejber and those that support it never actually changed and real and truly the new lejber is like a car, with the body of a Porche and an engine of a 1970 Lada. Sure looks nice, but is it good?
B Ellul
Feb 1st, 14:47
Frank, you're expecting too much from the MLP!
In fact,Mario Scicluna commented it was ok to BS for weeks on ONE about this issues and then make a deal with St Philip... No comment is also an answer!
A Cuschieri
Feb 1st, 14:52
Ghalfejn qed tistghageb Mario? Malta tieghu ukoll ta, ghandu dritt jitlob spjegazzjoni.
Mario Scicluna
Feb 1st, 15:38
@Joseph Aquilina
So what exactly is the attitude you are hoping for?The gullible one? The provocative one perhaps? Or the utterly stupid cretin one I wonder? The Nazz Party, with SB as newly appointed deputy failed to reach the aspirations of fresh new blood injection in the Religio et Patria, and yet, we are regaled with, more of the same GonziPN clique. More of the same, recycled and outwitted.
Albert Bonello
Feb 1st, 16:03
First the PL go all out against the PN for proposing a deal with St. Philips Hospital and now JM is hinting that he would consider signing a contract with St. Philips. What a hypocrite I think Lada was to good his engine is more like a trabant (the car utilised by the east Germans during the Cold War)!
J Martinelli
Feb 1st, 17:45
Mario, hawn m'hawnx spazju bizzejjed biex nispjegalek kemm int nieqes minn informazzjoni korretta, imma tisma biss min dak li jbellghalek il-PL.
Kummissjoni tinaghta kemm mill-BWSC u kemm minn Bateman, Sargas etc. HFO ghax ma hemmx infrastruttura ghal gass u hemm cans li l-UE thallas parti kbira minn pipeline.
Joseph jaf dan kollu imma jghidlek biss dak li jaqbillu u int tibla kollox.
Tony Agius
Feb 1st, 11:32
Dear Joseph,WAKE UP,the General Elections 2013 will soon be OVER, everyone was expecting you to publish the Malta Labour Party's Electoral Program,Did Karmenu Vella Let YOU DOWN on this LIKE POOR KONRAD?but now almost everyone gave up HOPELESSLY WAITING for it,and I think the best thing to do is, to make up our mind with what we have in hand,but you can always keep it for 2018,good bye LASY JO.
M BUHAGIAR
Feb 1st, 13:04
Dear Tony Agius . You still don't get it do you??
Since the campaign started the PL has been dishing out proposals daily for the public to assess , discuss , and why not even criticize maintaining an on going debate .
On the other-hand the PN passed the first 3 weeks as a spectator . Last week they issued a recycled Electoral Program which one can easily say has already dissolved in thin air!!!
B.C. Borg
Feb 1st, 13:07
If you have been given a time frame, you would use it all and leave the best of your efforts for the last. Wouldn't you?
V. Cauchi
Feb 1st, 11:28
I wonder how well will this waiting time promise go down well with surgeons pracising at MD. No one likes cramming and overwork especially if caused by former circumstances. They look like throwing the seed for a future dispute reminescent of the 70s. And then would not the temptation be too big to have the same ops done at a private hospital by the same surgeon? Much to be discussed.
M Cutajar
Feb 1st, 11:20
Well done Dr Muscat and all in the Labour Party who are coming out with all these proposals in all sectors. Bring on 9 March - looking forward for a new and fresh Government led by Dr Muscat .
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 14:37
Talk is cheap! Joseph has a proven track record of always being wrong, or changing his mind when that suits him, regardless of what he promised!! He said he would quit if the gas station did not work, then ... eh then ... he preferred not to comment. As I said, talk is cheap!
Simon Scerri
Feb 1st, 11:17
U vera, ilna 25 years nistennew proposta sura mil-Labour imma!!!!! dik waiting zgur!!!
J Borg
Feb 1st, 11:16
MD is such an administrative mess as we are still using software which is 20 years old! Unbeleivable how we actually manage, and the risk is that if its stops no one will fix it. We are told at MD that tender has been out for two years, but MITA are managing it, and they seem to find every reason to delay the award. We need new systems urgently. They will make a big difference.
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 1st, 11:12
“However, he was not excluding a deal with him [Dr. Frank Portelli] or with anyone else”. So why did Dr. Muscat oppose, so vehemently, an agreement that would have been beneficial to all Maltese? When he speaks about public-private partnership, to which economical and ideological model is he referring to? Does the word “private” have the same generic meaning, as used in liberal economies?
Martin Attard
Feb 1st, 11:11
ir-rispett lejn l-anzjani u l-morda... l-ewwel u qabel kollox
dawk huma il vera valuri xellugin
Prosit Dr. Muscat
Leonard Cole
Feb 1st, 11:08
And yet another promise and commitment and nothing in writting .... Electoral Programme ?????????
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 1st, 10:58
I do not know if I have to laugh or cry! I mean Joseph is promising everything and lejber diehards still believe him!? HOW JOSEPH ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAXIMUM DAY IS RESPECTED!? HOW JOSEPH!? Ahhhhh ... I know ... you actually believe you are capable of miracles (Joseph: "let there be a thousands doctors more") ... I mean there is no other explanation ... is there?
Mario Tabone
Feb 1st, 10:52
So more futile promises for the first year by JM !!!
But then again we already have the facility for using private hospitals. Using retired nurses as delivery persons ? Will not commit to using St Philips hospital ?
In fact nothing is guaranteed and nothing in black and white on the manifesto. Just that IF elected he would see what is on the table and work from there !!!!! Lies and more lies
Alex Falzon
Feb 1st, 10:40
Hassra li dan il-karattru ma baqax fil-pozizzjoni tieghi fi Brussel... soluzzjoni/risposta ghal kollox ghandu... kemm se jitwettqu? Dik torbot mistoqsija ohra
carmelo buttigieg
Feb 1st, 10:36
A number of concrete proposals in the health sector. Prosit.
connie scerri
Feb 1st, 12:43
Are you aware that these health proposals are already administered by the present goverment!lelei
J Mifsud
Feb 1st, 13:03
Dear Connie....you're sure that these proposals are already doen and done by the present govermnent? As I know people who have been waiting for appointments for months and are still waiting.
George Cutajar
Feb 1st, 13:08
What? Where? How? All is being done at the moment.
John L Galea
Feb 1st, 14:28
@Connie Scerri: Lol...everyone knows the disaster!! Then it proves that GonziPN's administration is a failure, then we need the PL to administer it well. Another reason why we need a change asap.
J Martinelli
Feb 1st, 18:53
@ Mifsud et al
Imma kif il-Laburisti ma jimbidlu qatt?
Meta, fi zmien is-sikkar tac-cinturin, bla dawl u ilma, xkafef vojta, tonn taz-zejt u cikkulata Ciniza, w tobba msakkrin barra, kollox kien sew ghax hekk kien hemm bzonn.
Imma meta jkun hemm gvern Nazzjonalista iridu kollox, l-ahjar, malajr u bla hlas!
Ghandhom dal-gid kollu w qed jitfixklu fih! Veru msieken.
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