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13 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2022 BUDGET2023 ENVIRONMENT HEALTH THE Finance Minister has announced the setting up of a new agency aimed at implementing the Labour Party's pledge to allocate €700 million to urban greening projects over seven years. One of the first projects, a collaboration with Wasteserv Malta, will be the conver- sion of the Sant Antnin recycling plant in Marsaskala into a family park. The first phase of the urban greening project also foresees projects in Bormla, Birżeb- buġa, Ħamrun, Marsa, Siġġiewi and San Ġwann. The agency will also offer the private sector an opportunity to invest in these projects through public private partner- ships. Afforestation projects, already an- nounced in last year's budget - including that in Zonqor, are reiterated as is the proposed extension of the Ta' Qali park in which a further €13 million will be in- vested in the next year. The government also intends to issue concessions for the operation and devel- opment of underground car parks on land already occupied by surface car parks with the aim of converting the overlying area into open spaces. More studies on land reclamation The budget also speaks of land recla- mation projects and makes reference to meetings with experts over the past months, exploring "projects" which "im- prove the environment" and bring "added value" to the country. But in an indication that the government is proceeding with caution, the next step will consist of more studies to determine the economic and financial feasibility and the social and en- vironmental impact of these projects. Public private partnerships are includ- ed in the Budget, intended to "give a new life" to the Chalet in Sliema, the Evans Buildings and the former fish market in Valletta for which the government has already approved a call for expression of interests. The budget hints that the gov- ernment is also exploring other sites. Private investment in offshore renew- ables Private investment in offshore renewa- ble energy is also implied in the budget. This follows a market consultation car- ried out in the past year with regards to private concessions in Malta's exclusive economic zone. The budget also foresees the continua- tion of the planning process for the de- velopment of a second interconnector - a project which will require a total invest- ment of €160 million. This will not only increase the provision of energy but also give the country a greater flexibility in its energy mix. Greater investment in the en- ergy grid aimed at improving the quality of service and ensuring that the distri- bution system can cope with increased provision from intermittent renewable sources was also announced. Government will renew energy efficien- cy schemes for businesses and households including those for photovoltaic panels, batteries for the storage of renewable en- ergy, heat pumps and solar water heaters. 1200 new charging stations Work will continue on the installation of 1200 new charging points for electric cars, a measure announced in the last budget, increasing their number nearly fourfold from the current 340. Previous schemes, consisting of interest free loans aimed at incentivising companies to switch to electric cars, will continue. €50 million investment in Organic waste plant During the next year the government will proceed with a €50 million invest- ment in an organic processing plant which will convert white bag waste into energy and compost for the agricultural sector. In a rare application of the polluter pays principle, the budget introduces the in- crease in landfill gate fees, which it had previously announced, a measure aimed at discouraging the landfilling of waste. The budget also announces plans for a Skip Management Facility aimed at re- ducing landfilled waste by 47,000 tonnes. Disappointingly, the budget is devoid of any measure aimed at addressing ground water extraction, however it does envis- age a further increase of reverse osmo- sis production by another 20% over and above the 30% increase in the past years, thanks to a €12 million investment. THE inflation associated with the Russia-Ukraine war did not spare the health sector in 2022, the finance minister said on Monday. Clyde Caruana said Govern- ment had to absorb an increase of around €3 million in med- icines prices and a further €4 million in an increase in the consumption of medicines whose price has risen over the past year. Despite these and other chal- lenges, however, the Minister expressed pride in the fact that Malta's health services were once again singled out for praise by the World Health Organisa- tion. Free medicines A number of new medicines and treatments will be added to the Government Formulary, and provided free-of-charge. These include a Human Papil- lomavirus (HPV) vaccine, for all boys born from 2000 onwards; as well as free medicines for multiple sclerosis. A wider range of patients will also benefit from medicines to treat diabetes and osteoporo- sis; while people receiving gam- ete-donation from third parties, will start to benefit from stim- ulant medications, in conjunc- tion with the services offered by Assisted Reproductive Tech- nology Clinic (ART). The Government Formulary will also be updated to provide a number of these medications free of charge. Another fund will be provided for urgent cases of suspected or diagnosed cancer, with the nec- essary treatment provided with- in a 12-week period. Chemotherapy Pumps, that patients can use from the com- fort of their home, will also be provided for free, if and as pre- scribed by the caring consult- ant. New Services A number of new health ser- vices will also be introduced in 2023: including Oncology Clin- ics at primary care level; a new Diabetes Centre at the Qormi Health Centre; the introduction of Genitourinary (GU) Clinics within the community; as well as GP Appointment Clinics in Health Centres. Patients suffering from hyper- glycaemia (high blood sugar) will also benefit from an ex- tension of the Remote Patient Monitoring project. The services provided by the Assisted Reproduction Clinic – previously limited only to cou- ples seeking to have their first child – will be extended also to those who wish for a second child. Pre-Implantation Genet- ic Testing (PGTM) will also be offered, in accordance with the protocols of the Embryo Pro- tection Authority. The already-introduced 'Nurse Navigator' service – which provides assistance to patients and families, from the moment of diagnosis until the end of the medical process - will be extended to the Sir An- thony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC) Hospital. Patients residing in Gozo, who have completed their cancer treatment, will also benefit from the Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) Clinic service, offered at the Gozo General Hospital. Community services current- ly provided by Mater Dei Hos- pital will be expanded through Point of Care (POC) testing, aimed at dealing with serious sexually-transmitted diseases as promptly as possible. In addition, the services cur- rently provided by the Child Development Assistance Unit (CDAU) and Child and Young People's Services (CYPs), will be centralised into a single, state- of-the-art centre. New agency to implement €700 open space pledge Oncology care to be provided at primary level