The Health Ministry has expressed its disappointed that some indicator scores in the Euro Pancreatic Index 2014 were not changed despite having been reviewed and corrected.
In a statement this afternoon the ministry said that it suggested corrections where erroneous data was reported before the report was published but while some corrections were made, some indicator scores were not changed despite having being reviewed and corrected.
“While the Ministry welcomes the ranking given to Malta in relation to the areas of patient rights, information and accessibility, prevention and palliative care it is extremely disappointed that HCP chose to ignore information provided by the ministry in relation to diagnostics and treatment.
“This misreporting of the treatment and diagnostic services available, seriously undermines the public’s confidence in the health system especially in this particularly vulnerable patient group,” it said.
The ministry pointed out that the study was conducted by the Health Consumer Powerhouse, an independent private organisation, made up of a small team of individuals which was not an official body linked to the European Commission or its entities.
Their operation was supported by unrestricted grants from major pharmaceutical companies and this index was funded through an unrestricted grant from Celgene, an American company manufacturing pharmaceuticals for cancer.