The Opposition's spokesman for health, Claudio Grech, insisted this morning that the government should improve primary health care to ease the pressure on Mater Dei Hospital and ultimately make the health service more sustainable.

Reacting to an EU report which called on Malta to ensure that health services were sustainable, Mr Grech said the governemnt was acting like Mater Dei Hospital was the be-all of the health service.

In 16 months, no new initiatives had been taken in primary health care other than rehabilitation of the health centres in Mosta and Rabat started by the previous government. Since then, the budget for refurbishment had actually dropped by 60 per cent.

The governemnt had also announced changes to the Emergency Department at Mater Dei, including plans to set up a GP clinic.

Although greater efficiency at the Emergency Department would be welcomed, Mr Grech said it also needed to be ensured that people who did not need to be treated in hospital went to health centres instead, and found a good service there.

He said that patients who used the health centres needed better continuity of care from the doctor who saw them the first time.

Furthermore, better use should be made of human resources. Why was it that doctors who were certain of diagnosis still had to refer patients to consultants at Mater Dei - with additional costs - when prescription of care was within their competence?

There was also need for improved coordination between private and public GP services, not least to reduce an overlap of expensive tests, Mr Grech said.