Shortcomings in health sector

If Health Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar is to defend his government's scandalous shortcomings in the health sector, such as the waiting lists, by saying that all of Europe is facing similar problems, he should also remember, and mention, areas where Europe is far more caring, and far more attentive to its citizens' needs, than Malta, such as in the provision of medicines.

We have heard of our state-of-the-art hospital ad nauseam. It should be state of the art, having cost us close to €700 million, with the PN administrations gone on a wild spending spree. It is a pity they did not match that extravagance in the number of beds so that Dr Cassar has now been constrained to ask relatives to take care of post-op patients at home, as The Times reports on February 9. He has the cheek to urge relatives to take leave from work to do this.

Of course, relatives taking care of patients at home would also ease the state-of-the-art hospital's staff shortages. Which is another area where the PN government has shown itself to be scandalously shortsighted. What is Lawrence Gonzi's government doing with all our tax money? We are paying more in taxes, in higher utility bills, in a higher cost of living. Has anyone seen a matching improvement in the standard of living?

The fact is that in spite of, and because of, the taxes we are paying we have to make do with fewer comforts. I am worse off today than when Dr Gonzi followed Eddie Fenech Adami into the hot seat. All I have is a smiling Prime Minister and nothing for myself to smile about.