Social Policy Minister John Dalli yesterday pledged a "revolution" at Mater Dei Hospital, aimed at tackling the growing problem with waiting lists for operations.
Addressing a political activity in Mellieħa, Mr Dalli said the government is working on a plan to organise the hospital better and ensure a sustainable healthcare system.
"It's not easy but we have to do things differently. We have to change old work practices. At the moment we are analysing how much everything is costing the country and where the medicines are going.
We have to change our mentality. We have a state-of-the-art hospital with doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals giving a great service. The revolution is being done keeping the interests of the patients in mind," he said.
His words come on the back of a damning report by the Ombudsman who said that waiting lists remain "shrouded by a thick veil of unaccountable criteria" and pointed his finger at consultants who maintain a stranglehold on the way operations are scheduled.
Questions about the report sent to Mr Dalli by The Times have so far remained unanswered. However, yesterday he focused primarily on this issue, saying that his ministry is working on establishing a structure of accountability. He said the waiting lists do not make sense and the government cannot tolerate a situation whereby no system exists indicating where medicines are going.
The Times reported last June that, despite the new infrastructure, the hospital had no centralised statistics for waiting lists and the Social Policy Ministry said it was working on the problem. When asked again last month it admitted that the system was still not in place. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, also speaking in Mellieħa, said the country's economy was weathering the financial and economic crisis.
He said there is no room for complacency and the country should not fear making somewhat painful decisions which can serve it well once the situation improves.
The economy had some good news last week, including the increased investment in Smart-City and the quick take-up of the Midi bonds. But the government is monitoring developments every day, knowing that weak demand in other countries is affecting factories in Malta.
Dr Gonzi said the government is also concerned about weakening economies abroad, such as in the UK, and the impact they might have on tourism in Malta. Ryanair's announcement of two new routes to UK airports was good news to Malta, he added.