The Nationalist Party yesterday unveiled plans to build two state-of-the-art regional health centres in the coming legislature as it emphasised primary health care.
Addressing a press conference at party headquarters yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that after making sure it was delivering the best possible acute healthcare with Mater Dei Hospital and partnerships with the private sector, the Government would turn its attention to primary health care. This would relieve the pressure on the general hospital.
As part of these plans, a PN government would build two regional health centres, one in St Julian’s and the other one in the south. They would join the Mosta regional centre, which is currently undergoing a multi-million refurbishment.
The centres would have the best equipment and human resources and would have the capacity for minor operations and other interventions to be performed, Dr Gonzi said.
“This will offload some of the demand on Mater Dei and give a better service to patients.”
Listing a number of services for the elderly that this Administration has already introduced, including Telecare, meals on wheels and new residential homes, Dr Gonzi said the Government was planning to further improve the services that enabled the elderly to live independently.
While plans had been laid for five new day care centres and the opening of more residential homes, from next year all people over 75 living alone would start receiving an allowance of €500 a year. Tax incentives would also be introduced for those requiring home care.
Workers who took unpaid leave to care for the elderly would also qualify for new tax incentives.
The PN leader said during the next legislature, the Government would also be investing in new rehabilitation services and a facility would be set up for the purpose. Asked whether the Government’s proposal to buy St Philip’s Hospital and transform it into a rehabilitation facility was still on, Dr Gonzi said it would continue to explore the project.
“This might be an opportunity but we won’t do a deal with St Philip’s at all costs. The deal has to make sense,” he said.