Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/394213
JURGEN BALZAN THE private sector has welcomed health parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne's announcement that the gov- ernment is considering introducing tax refunds for people who pay for private health insurance. Insurers who spoke to MaltaToday agreed that such a move would ben- efit both insurers and private hospi- tals by encouraging more people to take up private insurance. Fearne made the announcement on Monday's edition of the current affairs programme Reporter, when he said that the new scheme will be included in the 2015 Budget and is intended to encourage more people to start paying for private health- care, with the added incentive of tax refunds. If put into effect, the controversial decision would see a seismic shift from public to private healthcare that is part-financed by taxpayers' money. In 2012, around 20% of the popu- lation, or 90,000, were covered by a private health insurance. In 2012, the number of people insured under individual contracts accounted for 11,202 while 79,954 lives were in- sured under group policies. Currently the parliamentary sec- retary is in talks with the Malta In- surance Association over the scheme and although negotiations are ongo- ing, a deal is expected to be conclud- ed in the coming weeks. While welcoming the initiative, op- position MP Claudio Grech warned against using taxpayer money to fi- nance "ineffective and inappropri- ate" health insurances. In comments to MaltaToday the PN's spokesperson on health said the move would be a step in the right di- rection, however he said that before implementing such a scheme "we feel it is necessary to ensure that insur- ance policies offer a baseline level of universal coverage in a way that pa- tients are not short-changed due to the small print in the policy." Newspaper post WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION WEDNESDAY • 8 OCTOBER 2014 • ISSUE 385 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank is a participant in the Depositor Compensation Scheme in Malta. Terms and conditions apply. 2132 2102 helpdesk@easisave.com www.easisave.com 2132 2102 2132 2102 No Hidden Fees or Bank Charges Individual or Joint Account Option Easy, Flexible and Secure Visit our website, open your online bank account and start beneting from superior interest rates on your savings and xed term deposit accounts. US Dollar Fixed Term Deposit 3 month: 0.90% 6 month: 1.50% 9 month: 1.75% 1 year: 2.25% 2 year: 2.65% 3 year: 2.85% 3 month: 2.20% 6 month: 2.30% 9 month: 2.40% 1 year: 2.50% 2 year: 2.85% 3 year: 3.00% Euro Fixed Term Deposit Minimum Deposit €1,000 Minimum Deposit $1,000 Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Euro Savings Account Minimum Deposit €50 US Dollar Savings Account Minimum Deposit $50 1.75 % 0.50 % €0.90 Editorial - PAGE 9 CONTINUES PAGE 4 Budget's tax rebate on health insurance will be industry boon Mriehel land included by stealth for high-rise areas – tailor-made for Tumas and Gasan? JAMES DEBONO AN application to construct four high-rise towers on the site of the present Gasan head office on the Mriehel bypass has been presented by the Tumas and Gasan groups. Mriehel was not included among the localities that will be considered for high-rise buildings of over 10 sto- reys, when a policy regulating build- ing heights was first issued for public consultation in November 2013. But Mriehel was added to the list by stealth, before the policy was ap- proved in June. The Tumas and Gasan Groups are partners in the multinational Electro- Gas consortium, which is set to pro- vide Malta with natural gas for the next 18 years. The new high-rise development will consist of four towers ranging in height from 14 to 19 storeys and will include four underlying parking lev- els. The development will also include offices, retail shops, food and drink outlets, conference facilities, a show- room and educational facilities. An underground supermarket is also be- ing proposed. 6,155 square metres of land are designated as public areas. The total built-up floor space will amount to 43,800 square metres spread over 19 storeys. Gasan is also proposing a high-rise 34-storey tower in Sliema next to Villa Drago. CONTINUES PAGE 5 Gasan-Tumas Groups plan four towers in Mriehel Chris Fearne