The discussion about the problems at Mater Dei Hospital goes on. The fact that Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar revealed that the number of patients attending outpatients at Mater Dei increased by 65,000, the number of admissions rose by over 4,000 and that the number of major operations carried out grew by more than 300 a year is a feather in the cap of the medical and paramedical staff working at the hospital. All employees concerned are doing their utmost to make the system work, a system for which Dr Cassar has to admit that, in spite of the fact that it took about 17 years for the hospital to be built, no decent forward planning had been carried out by his predecessor and previous Nationalist governments.
So, please, there should be no finger-pointing or mud throwing at the medical and paramedical staff working at Mater Dei Hospital. After practically destroying the confidence that the Maltese had in their family doctors and the policlinics, a move will now be made by the present government to rekindle this.
Again, trying to build up what has been previously destroyed! However, if we achieve all this and provide a better or well-functioning home-care system we might alleviate some of the burdens on Mater Dei.
Educating the public in this direction is also necessary and this will have to come from the government itself as well as from all the sections in the medical and paramedical profession.
To have a rehabilitation centre is well and good but what we actually need is a half-way house, leaving Mater Dei as an "acute" hospital. The difference between a half-way house and a rehabilitation centre might not be so apparent to the layman but those in my profession would understand my line of thought. Once the condition of the patient has been stabilised, s/he would then be transferred to this unit where the patients' family doctors could also be involved in their further care.
The decrease in the number of patients on the operation waiting lists has only been an on-table exercise. Patients were exasperated to wait for such long intervals to have their condition seen to. Therefore, one would understand their attitude of seeing a second or third consultant in order to be put on the waiting lists, of all them hoping to be called for the operation earlier by one consultant rather than by another. This shows how desperate some patients are to have their conditions and pains alleviated. They should not be frowned upon in taking such an attitude.
Regarding the doctor's specialisation, I am still of the opinion that part of this should be carried out in other EU countries on an exchange basis. This would widen our specialists' experience and field of thought. Consultants should be made to spend short intervals at specialised centres abroad and attend international conferences to keep up-to-date with latest developments.
Medical research should be obligatory for those aiming for University posts. We should aim to have in Malta a medical centre of international repute in the middle of the Mediterranean. I strongly believe in the Maltese medical profession. We have to give them all the opportunities and plan ahead for their future as this concerns not only us but our children and grandchildren.
As I have reiterated also in Parliament, previous PN governments have failed in forward planning in the health sector. Human resources have to be seen to and the medical brain drain has to be tackled. All sections in the health profession should come together to solve the problem in the name of national interest. We must think ahead and be truthful in what we say and do. We cannot justify a rise of three per cent in VAT by saying that it was to cover the expenses in the health sector when the intention was otherwise.
Prof. Zammit is the Labour spokesman on health.