Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/212250
3 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2013 Vella denies 'Chinese whispers' on Air Malta MIRIAM DALLI IT is still too early to determine whether the five-year restructuring process of Air Malta will turn the national airline to profitability, tourism minister Karmenu Vella said yesterday in parliament. Vella was clear on one thing: nothing could be ruled out until 2016 was over, as he fenced off suggestions from the Opposition that privatisation for the national airline was on the cards. Vella once again refused to categorically rule out the possibility of privatising the national airline, instead reiterating those first suggestions back in 1994 by then Air Malta chairman Joe Tabone to finance minister George Bonello Dupuis. Last year, former Air Malta chairman Louis Farrugia told an MHRA meeting that the airline could only expand through private capital injections. But Vella rubbished suggestions by Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo that Air China was now interested in purchasing shares within Air Malta. Arrigo went as far as saying that an investor had even obtained a Maltese passport to this end. "As far as I know, no investor has obtained a Maltese passport. We simply cannot say what can happen because the restructuring process stretches into 2016," Vella said. He instead ridiculed demands by the Opposition to keep Air Malta 'Maltese'. "Were we the ones who brought on board foreign management?" he quipped in reference to British chief executive Peter Davies, whose contract expires in March 2014. Vella insisted he would not interfere in the restructuring process. Air Malta's financial results of its second year in its EC-mandated restructuring shows a halving of operating losses from €30 million to €13.7 million in March 2013. "These figures are for its second year... there are three more to go. Can someone tell me today what's going to happen in 2016? By March 2013, Air Malta was on track. We are now worrying about what will happen by March 2014. Doing well during one year is no guarantee for the future." Vella went to great pains to emphasise that the restructuring process was forged by the European Commission during a Nationalist administration. "In no way do we want, or can, change the programme. But if we cannot change the restructuring process, it's because it is bound by the agreement. And we retained the same team. This year, the government passed on €40 million to Air Malta and next year we will pass on €15 million. We have kept our part of the deal. Now we expect results from the restructuring plan." Minister vows to address 'misuse of medicines' TIM ATTARD MONTALTO HEALTH Minister Godfrey Farru- gia yesterday called for a more "corporate form of governance" to make use of medicines provided by the state more effectively, through the use of technology. Farrugia said that Malta's population aged over 65 would rise from 16% to 20% by 2016. "We need to be prepared for this inescapable scenario," he said, adding that higher consumption of medicines, clogging-up of waiting lists and a lack of bed space in hospitals would be consequences of an ageing population. The minister said the government would be preparing a holistic national health strategy, personalised towards the patient and one that is continuous, with contributions from NGOs and unions. Farrugia accused the former administration of poor corporate governance, a lack of inventory systems and financial planning, and that he had found no motivation amongst workers since taking office. He defended himself on accusations of medicine shortages, saying out-ofstock drugs would always be a recurring problem but said his ministry would find "smart and innovative" ways to counter this problem. "We need immediate and permanent solutions. And no medicine should ever be out of stock," he said. Farrugia was addressing a press conference yesterday at the soon-tobe new pharmaceutical warehouse in San Gwann – measuring 4,000 square metres in dimension – that will centralise the storing of medicines. Godfrey Farrugia also stressed that government was intent on doing away with the one-size-fits-all approach, which has previously been the standard approach. "Why should one patient have to wait the same amount of time for one medicine that another patient is waiting for his, if his need for medicinal care is much more urgent?" he said, adding that patients were suffering enough without the added frustration of such bureaucratic mismanagement. The health minister also pubished a White Paper that will focus on the reform of medicine management in order to avoid the misuse, excess storage or unnecessary waste of medicines. 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