Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/946236
maltatoday SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2018 Opinion 22 I n a thriving European democracy like ours one expects, indeed welcomes, discussion and debate, particularly on politically sensitive issues. Sure enough, in the last months our public health system and how we intend to carry it forward, has been the subject of extensive and vigorous exchanges. There was a no holds barred parliamentary debate, intense and successful industrial relations discussions with all the unions concerned and, of course, negotiations with our private partners in the health sector. This democratic process spearheaded a broader national debate with professionals, the media and the public in general. It is, of course, the duty of Government to listen and discuss, certainly to hear and evaluate what is being said, but it is also its responsibility to then take decisions and implement. That is after all what we were elected to do. And now it is time to do just that. From the start of this Government's first legislature we sowed the seeds of a policy which first and foremost underlines government's key role as the provider and regulator in certain core areas of the health sector. Simultaneously, the policy also envisaged engagement with private enterprise in certain other areas – some completely new – to deliver equal excellence, efficiency, and effectiveness, without breaking the exchequer. The seed has now grown and started to produce the desired fruits, a fact confirmed by the overwhelming mandate given to us in the 2017 elections. In 2013 we found a health sector centred around Mater Dei Hospital, with world class services offered by a dedicated and competent staff. Sadly, it nevertheless suffered from some acute operational problems, particularly out- of-stock medicines, waiting lists and bed shortages during peak periods. We also found a number of regional health centres which were just limping along and in desperate need of a major upgrade. St Luke's was abandoned and in disrepair, Karin Grech was crying out for an upgrade, Gozo's hospital was in a decrepit state, and Mount Carmel was literally left to fall apart for decades. Our plan was simple yet effective. Government focused on the key health services, solving Mater Dei's critical issues and investing in regional health centres to enhance primary health care. We will be building a new out-patients unit, developing a new car park at Mater Dei and embarking on the building of a new maternity and children's hospital. We also embarked on a plan to take mental health care to the next level, whilst keeping operational management in the hands of the public sector. This will see Mount Carmel turned into a next generation mental health care institution, geared to care for long-term psychiatric patients. The thrust will also see us opening a new acute mental health care facility at Mater Dei. We are also building new health centres in Paola and Kirkop and are planning a Northern Medical Hub. Most of our health services will continue to be managed by the Government. In other areas, and to explore new ones – all requiring substantial investment and focus – we are working with private healthcare partners, whilst Government retains the role of regulator and the option to use their beds and services. All public healthcare services will remain free of charge. St Luke's, Karin Grech and the Gozo hospital will all be modernised and made efficient, providing excellent health services not only to Maltese and Gozitan patients, free of charge, but also attracting international health tourism, a niche which continues to grow worldwide. Clearly there are different models for Government with which to engage with the private sector, and much of the current debate centres on which one works best for our particular national requirements. However, as I read it, there is a general consensus that the policy of continuing to involve private enterprise in the provision of health is sound. In the case of the Gozo/St Luke's Hospitals PPP we have now partnered with Steward HealthCare, a leading and experienced health provider in the USA with extensive experience in the provision of healthcare in close to 40 hospitals. On behalf of Government I welcome Steward to our islands. I am eager to work with them to ensure that our partnership is a success. Needless to add, Government's interest, and mine as Minister for Health, shall remain first and foremost to ensure that Maltese citizens continue to get the best healthcare possible, and to ensure that our partners deliver it. In this regard, we have recently strengthened the regulatory arm within the Health Ministry even more. In the last five years we have strategically laid the foundations to take our healthcare set-up to the next level, with an infrastructural capacity to cater for our requirements becoming operationally sound, and with an adequate human resource pool of well-paid professionals to deliver excellence. We are not going to sit on our laurels. Now we need to think beyond the next few years, to come up with a strategy to ensure that we fully harness the medical and technological innovations in the pipeline. We must ensure that in the next decade we will not only retain our health services at a premium level, but make Malta an international showcase for the best in class health practices. Together with Barts and Queen Mary University, we are in fact already working on this. Our vision is to make Malta's health services the best possible. For this generation and for those yet to come. Chris Fearne is deputy prime minister and minister for health On behalf of Government I welcome Steward to our islands. I am eager to work with them to ensure that our partnership is a success Needless to add, Government's interest, and mine as Minister for Health, shall remain first and foremost to ensure that Maltese citizens continue to get the best healthcare possible, and to ensure that our partners deliver it Healthy exchanges Chris Fearne