Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia feels confident that when the EU cross-border healthcare directive comes into force next October, Mater Dei Hospital would be in a position to tell patients for surgery the maximum length of time they should expect to wait before receiving treatment.
The directive clarifies the rules on access to healthcare in another EU country, including reimbursement. EU countries have until October 25 to pass their own laws implementing the directive.
Dr Farrugia was answering Jason Azzopardi (PN) and subsequently other members from both sides of the House in what turned out to be a 30-minute debate between the minister and his predecessor, Joe Cassar.
He said that international benchmarks were being studied before local targets were drawn up in consultation with the professionals concerned.
The previous administration promised to eliminate waiting lists, but ‘everyone’ knew that things were different
Dr Cassar pointed out that such an exercise had already been undertaken.
“Has the minister had been informed about this work, or did he think it was inadequate?” he asked.
Furthermore, no international benchmarks concerning waiting lists existed.
Dr Farrugia replied that the previous administration had promised to eliminate waiting lists, but “everyone out there” knew that things were different.
The process did not give the desired results and the new Labour government could not rely on it.
On a point of order, Dr Cassar objected that the minister had not answered his question, emphasising that the work was carried out by the professionals working at Mater Dei Hospital – and not by the ministry.
Dr Farrugia said the results clearly showed that existing plans needed to be revised and fine-tuned. The EU deadline set a clear timeframe. He could not see how one could claim that international benchmarks did not exist when other countries did not share Malta’s problem.
Robert Cutajar (PN) referred to reports that waiting lists included patients who had died, and others who had already been operated upon.
The minister said this only confirmed the “disaster” the new government had inherited, with a system that was not accurate.
A question by Labour MP Deo Debattista on whether one needed to wait 25 years for things to change, prompted sighs of exasperation from the Opposition, laughter from the Government side, and hushed chuckles from the Strangers’ Gallery and media representatives.