We all must be disturbed by allegations that the new residence scheme is subject to corrupt abuse.

I am a non-resident, having opted to pay taxes in the UK after I bought my holiday home in Malta. I did so because the UK government paid for my education fully to university level and I will always be grateful for that. I carry an NHS card, which I could use to avail myself of NHS facilities. However I have private insurance and it has served me very well whenever I have needed help.

However, residents who had opted many years ago to take up residence simply paid €4,800 a year to escape tax liabilities abroad.

In addition, they are entitled to free healthcare.

Now many of these old residence contracts are coming to fruition as the aging process requires a greater response from Mater Dei Hospital.

Has the financial impact been considered when allowing these old residence arrangements to be maintained? Has each and every new applicant for residence been subject to a full medical examination? I recently enquired about the range of tests I should take simply to calculate the risks of stroke, cancer and the rest. I was advised there would need to be about 50 including an MRI scan.

So, is there a medical procedure in place whereby each and every applicant, dependant and, possibly, others consent to before the issue of residence is even considered? I fear putting money first may be of limited benefit to the Maltese economy if free healthcare is made available.

Maybe a condition of entry should be proof of global healthcare coverage so that the Maltese government is not responsible either for the costs of care in Malta or even abroad. After all, once a resident, there may be an assumed liability on the part of the Maltese government to cover foreign health bills abroad should that resident be unable to pay over there.