The government was working on short-, medium- and long-term plans to address the precarious situation at Mater Dei, including that of building a new hospital, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
He said it was “clear” that Mater Dei was “too small to cater for the demand”, which was increasing at an average of 100 beds per year.
“Within five years, we would need 500 beds over and above what we have. We are not excluding anything,” he said when asked by a party delegate to comment on a suggestion by nurses that Malta needed a new acute hospital.
Dr Muscat was participating in a question-and-answer session with party delegates at the Labour headquarters in Ħamrun.
He said efforts were being directed towards strengthening the primary health sector so people who did not need hospital care received care from their family doctor or at health centres.
“The Health Ministry is exploring all possibilities. At the moment, we are in fire fighting mode, addressing issues we inherited.
“But we are also looking at other options. It is not a question of how much money you throw at trying to solve the problem,” he said.
“There is a lot of waste at Mater Dei and the abuses identified in the John Dalli report have been passed on to the police for investigation.”
Asked about the controversial cash-for-citizenship scheme, Dr Muscat said this was the only such programme given the seal of approval by the European Commission.
The Individual Investor Programme, he said, placed Malta at the top in innovative programmes as other countries would now be following in the country’s footsteps.
“Our ambition is to lead and then let others follow. The citizenship by investment was high on our agenda because we want to change the face of the country. We want to use the money for education and for social programmes.”
Appealing to Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil to listen to social partners and people within his own party, Dr Muscat said it was not true that the PN was opposing it on principle.
Turning to pupils’ tablets, which was a major electoral pledge, Dr Muscat said a pilot project was expected to start soon and fourth grade students would all receive one. He said discussions with teachers were being given priority.
The government was looking into different options such as one that automatically turned tablets off at 8.15pm so they could not be used as a toy. There would also be control over what apps could be used to protect children.
Asked whether the decision to substitute Arriva was a political vendetta, Dr Muscat said the revamped public transport service did not suit the island’s needs. He said changing it again was part of the government’s plan to improve traffic flows. Wardens had become “targets” instead of having an educational purpose.“We need a system that stresses education and where fines go to the community,” he said.
Dr Muscat also said a public tender would be issued soon for free childcare from April.