The fighting in Libya is slowly coming to an end. It has been bloody, heavy and merciless, and many survivors are wounded, on both sides. Such injuries may not be fatal and may require treatment, not only to save lives but also to ameliorate the effects of such injuries, thereby reducing residual handicaps.

Libya is a close neighbour with whom this country has had a colourful relationship. We have had our ups and downs. But on the whole Malta has benefited immensely from Libya and Libyan interests, primarily through business links and health tourism. Many Maltese companies used to do lucrative business in Libya, with Libyan partners, and many Libyans have traditionally come to Malta for medical care that is unavailable (as yet) in their country.

In this troubled time it is only fitting and reasonable for Malta to attempt to provide urgent medical care for as many injured Libyans as is physically possible. It is not only the humane thing to do but also in our interest as extending a helping hand now will spotlight Malta to Libyan interests, particularly when the time comes for Libya to return to business as usual.

However, this should not be to the detriment of Maltese patients. The Times has repeatedly highlighted the poor planning that has led to an obvious undersupply of hospital beds at Mater Dei Hospital and no amount of official statements can possibly convince the public that Libyan patients can be treated surgically at Mater Dei Hospital without encroaching on existing surgical lists. However, wild accusations by unions will not contribute to solutions and will only lead to counter-statements by organisations such as the I-Go Aid Foundation.

The activation of the hospital contingency plan was the logical thing to do and that will help take some of the load but the aftercare of these patients will inevitably impinge on and compete with similar care for Maltese patients. However, if done sensibly, there is no reason why a few select cases cannot continue to be handled. The government has done the Christian thing – to extend the Samaritan’s hand.

But it should also give more consideration to the possibility of better exploiting the private medical services that are available, namely through the St James Group and the empty St Philip’s and St Luke’s hospitals. The former could theoretically take a significant number of patients and the latter could be manned by paid volunteers, who may elect to work in their off hours. This would include all staff, that is, cleaners, nursing aides, laboratory technicians, nurses, radiographers, technicians and doctors.

We should not have to wait for the Red Cross to open a field hospital. This is not the time for the government to stint – besides our humanitarian obligations, a helping hand extended now will reap later rewards, possibly spurring Libyan nationals and even the new Libyan government to use more Maltese services, to our benefit. That is really the only thing that Malta, with no natural resources, can provide: services.

If the financial outlay is deemed as too excessive for the country to bear, then an agreement could perhaps be reached with the interim Libyan Administration such that costs incurred will eventually be reimbursed by the Libyan state, perhaps even using frozen Libyan assets in Malta, with the Maltese government only paying for treatment in the interim.

Malta is already perceived in a good light for the way it has responded to its neighbours’ plight. It can and should do more.