The Nationalist Party this morning called on the government to reverse its decision to charge IVF patients €2,500 for every intervention.

Health spokesman Claudio Grech said that contrary to what the Labour Party had promised before the general election, the government was, for the first time ever, imposing a charge for a medical service.

He said that the government's decision to make people pay for this medical service was wrong and the Nationalist Party totally disagreed with it.

Mr Grech said that the PN would be considering with an open mind, the report being penned by former Health (and finance) Minister John Dalli on the situation at Mater Dei Hospital.

He said that it appeared that currently there were two different management teams at Mater Dei – with Mr Dalli heading one of the team and the other being the regular management team, which was not being consulted.

Mr Grech called for transparency.

The IVF charge also came in for heavy criticism by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil yesterday. Speaking in Parliament, he described the decision as shameful and a betrayal of Labour promises. Dr Busuttil also criticised the government for failing to make headway on hospital overcrowding and out-of-stock medicines, saying the situation had worsened despite promises to the contrary.

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