The Libyans coming to Malta for treatment are not putting the health of Maltese people in jeopardyt, Health Minister Joe Cassar said this morning.
These patients, he said, were neither increasing the waiting time for people using the Emergency Department.
Speaking during a dialogue meeting in Mosta, Dr Cassar said that the ITU and the Emergency Department had separate entrances.
So it was not a question of the Libyans in ITU increasing the waiting time for people wanting to use the Emergency Department.
Non-ITU Libyan patients, he said, were being taken to St James Hospital for treatment.
Dr Cassar said that Labour did not say anything about the situation initially and when it finally did, it came to the wrong conclusion because it said that the waiting period for patients using the Emergency Department had increased.
He said that this was a mature government and it could take the right decisions.
He referred to criticism that he took his time before taking decisions.
"I think before I take decisions, I do not just decide, like others before me have done," he said.
Dr Cassar said that as a doctor, he had seen a lot but nothing had prepared him for the injuries of these war patients
Their situation had made him very emotional and he had been close to fainting when he saw them get off the plane on their arrival in Malta.
"When I see a brother wounded to the extent that his head and stomach are open, should I let them be because there are people in corridors?...
"I do not think those who are criticising us know what we are dealing with," he said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi also spoke about the situation in Libya and said that the Maltese had passed their test by taking the right, if risky decisions.
Imagine had the country taken a position in favour of Gaddafi, he would have had to hide head in shame, he said.
"Now I can look back and say I have nothing to be ashamed of. The Maltese did all they could do and this is something even Libya's National Transitional Council has recognised."
The new Libyan leaders, Dr Gonzi said, respected Malta for the humanitarian role it had played.
"There is reciprocal appreciation between Libya's new leaders and the Maltese government.
"We can now work together so that both countries can progress in different areas," he said.
Dr Gonzi said that he will lead the political/business delegation to Libya as soon as the new government is formed.