Updated: Chris Fearne criticises PN health proposals, warns of 'past mistakes'; PN replies
Former Health Minister Chris Fearne has sharply criticised the Nationalist Party’s health proposals, arguing they risk repeating policies from previous administrations and could create new inequalities within the sector.
Speaking at a press conference, Fearne warned that the PN’s approach would take Malta’s healthcare system “back to how it was under Gonzi.”
Fearne argued that the Nationalist Party’s vision would place undue pressure on hospitals by failing to strengthen primary care services.
“It cannot be the case that for every primary care need, patients must go to hospital,” he said.
He also criticised a proposal by PN Leader Alex Borg to grant five years of tax exemptions to healthcare workers who return to Malta after working abroad. Fearne described the measure as discriminatory, saying it would disadvantage professionals who chose to remain in Malta.
“This confirms that the Nationalist Party is not prepared when it comes to the health sector,” he added.
Parliamentary Secretary for Public Cleanliness Glenn Bedingfield echoed these concerns, arguing that the PN had “not learnt from past mistakes.” He claimed the PN’s campaign lacked transparency, referencing the fact that proposals were released without proper engagement with the media.
Bedingfield also raised questions about the feasibility of the PN’s plans to build new hospitals, noting a lack of detail on staffing.
“We know foreign workers will be needed, but they have not explained where these workers will come from,” he said.
He further criticised comments attributed to Ray Gatt – whom Bedingfield suggested could be a potential Health Minister under a Nationalist government – who said that he himself had long waiting lists during his practice as an orthopaedics surgeon. Bedingfield said that the PN’s promise of shorter hospital waiting times could therefore not be taken seriously.
The Labour officials also accused the PN of failing to clarify key aspects of its proposals, including the locations of the planned hospitals.
Labour cannot be trusted on healthcare – PN
The former Labour Health Minister Chris Fearne – who in this electoral campaign appears to have once again been appointed Labour’s spokesperson on health – attempted to ridicule the considered plan announced by the Nationalist Party for this sector, the PN said
He told us that the proposals put forward by the PN in favour of those who rely on healthcare services would set us back years.
What the PN’s proposals certainly will not do is set the country back €900 million of the people’s money, as was taken from healthcare through what he himself had described as “the real deal” – an agreement that turned out to be nothing but smoke and mirrors, and which today he is doing everything possible to distance himself from, the PN said.
And yet Labour wants to attack others on credibility in the health sector, the PN said.
RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta Updated: Chris Fearne criticises PN health proposals, warns of 'past mistakes'; PN replies