The Nationalist Party this afternoon accused the GWU of having chosen to join a "dishonest and partisan" campaign by the Labour Party about the health service.

The GWU in a statement had asked the government for a clear assurance that health services would remain free, adding that it was concerned that the governemnt had commissioned and discussed a report which proposed payments for public health services.

The PN said the union statement was aimed at propping up the PL and Joseph Muscat, who were trying to deceive the people.

It said the government had repeatedly declared that public health services would remain free of charge and the government was committed to strengthening such services.

Instead of making proposals on the health service, Dr Muscat was trying to alarm the people, especially the most vulnerable, the PN said.

It said that the only recent government to have introduced payments on public health service was Alfred Sant's Labour government.