Opposition health spokesman Claudio Grech this morning presented a motion in Parliament for the setting up of a House Committee for Health.

He said the health sector should not be politicised and the opposition believed that the setting up of this parliamentary committee would help the island deal with the strategic decisions which needed to be taken, particularly in view of the increased demands placed by an ageing population.

Strategic decisions were also needed to be tackled waiting lists, hospital overcrowding and out-of-stock medicines.

Mr Grech said the House committee proposal had been informally discussed with the government, which appeared to agree with the proposals, as the prime minister's remarks in parliament last week showed.

Replying to questions, Mr Grech insisted that health services should be free of charge and if the government was planning to introduce charges, it should not introduce them by stealth.