Opposition main spokesperson for consumer rights Michael Farrugia yesterday claimed that in last week’s overhaul in the free medicine system, dementia became part of Schedule Five but was removed from the pink card and was put in to the yellow card system. This meant that benefits would be removed.

Speaking during the debate in second reading amending the Social Services Act, Dr Farrugia said that there was a need of a serious system and if the government wanted sustainability, it should have an audit trail system of medicine.

He recalled that when he had assumed ministerial office in 1996, he was told that 400 medicines were not stocked while the stocks of 700 others were low. Meanwhile, one of the first measures that were to be taken was to set up an audit trail system since this was non-existent. This still remained unimplemented.

Dr Farrugia said dementia should be identified in its early stages because this would slow the whole process of the patient’s deterioration. Relatives of persons suffering from Alzheimer were also affected since several would have to terminate their employment to look after the patients. This would result in a greater burden on the government. EU member states had wisely provided Alzheimer treatment either free of charge or at low prices through a preventive aspect.

Meanwhile, the Maltese government had institutionalised the problem. It would have been better if the government provided medicine to persons suffering from Alzheimer and to identify it during its early stages.

On osteoporosis, Dr Farrugia said that if one adopted a preventive approach, people would not have to undergo bone density tests when it was too late. This would help to reduce the rates of bone fracturing as well as to reduce government expenses.

Speaking on the Pharmacy of Your Choice, Dr Farrugia said that several pharmacies were not supplied with the required medicine. Patients had to go to Floriana, since several health centres were closed.

To make things worse, the government did not stock medicine to control arrhythmia where several people had no other alternative but to do without.

Medicine was expensive and certain people had already their pockets drained when receiving the utility bill. Some had their pockets shrink even more due to osteoporosis or decided not take the medicine, ending up with more problems that society had to bear as a result of the government’s administrative faults. Future governments would be thanking the present generation if preventive measures were taken.

There was a need to look at things from a different aspect. If Malta had a low rate of women in employment, extending maternity leave could have increased participation by nine percentage points. Yet, Malta spoke against it on an EU level.

While speaking on more female participation in employment, including tele-working, more often than not women would be denied to do so. Some would also be denied a transfer to a department that accepted tele-working.

Dr Farrugia said the next budget should consist of serious friendly measures to encourage employment participation. This would be beneficial for individuals, their families, the government, and pensioners. It would also enhance sustainability in education.