Alternattiva Demokratika said it is pointless to boast of a universal and public health service if patients have to wait months if not years to get an appointment.

AD's spokesman for health and social policy, Mary Anne Zammit stressed on the urgent need to address the acute problems in the public health sector, both at Mater Dei Hospital and also the service, or lack of it, at health centres.

"The delays in the upgrading of workers' grades and the filling of vacant posts in the Bio-Medical Engineering Section at Mater Dei Hospital is directly affecting workers by putting more stress on them, something which is then reflected in the poor levels of service."

AD chairman Arnold Cassola said the party's position has always been that investment in infrastructure without an investment in training and development of staff and in health centres would only lead to a transfer of the problems at St Luke's Hospital to a new location -Mater Dei.

He insisted that the exaggerated waiting lists and waiting times for appointments in vital departments such as Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and the Diabetic Clinic must be tackled urgently.

"People have no choice but to resort to the private sector even though they are contributing through national health insurance to fund the public system. This is leading to a deterioration in the quality of life since private health services are extremely expensive for the majority of people.

"Extending patient contact hours for consultants and further specialised training for medical officers would be a positive attempt in alleviating this problem," Prof. Cassola said.