State doctors (2)

I have been following recent references to the so-called "privileged doctor" who seems to be at the centre of controversy between the Medical Association of Malta and the health authorities. I do not intend to enter into polemics. The aim of this contribution is to give credit where credit is due.

I have known Alex Manché for the last 10 years particularly since the performance of Malta's first heart transplant by his all-Maltese team in September of 1996 on a colleague of mine.

In 1997 I was passing through a very difficult period due to cardiac failure and was under the care of Mr Manché when it was diagnosed that I will not survive for more than one year unless I had a heart transplant. This was performed on me in August of 1999 by Mr Manché, to whom I owe my life.

This feeling is shared by my other six colleagues who were all also successfully heart transplanted by Mr Manché over the past few years.

I would not, today, be writing this contribution where it not for his ability and dedication. We can all vouch for his credentials, not only for his known abilities but also for his regular dedicated services which he provides at all times - a telephone call away. We have all maintained regular contact through periodical needed tests and other services.

In saying so I wish to pay tribute also to other doctors for whose services I am grateful. However, I do not concur with the term "equal work" used in recent references. Considering that, unlike other doctors, Mr Manché has no private practice and is on 24 hours call, I honestly feel that his work is not "equal". I spent six weeks at CTS following my operation. Mr Manché was always the first doctor I would meet early in the morning and the last to see at night time.

I do not intend entering into polemics of salaries and other issues unfamiliar to me as a patient. I only wish to give credit to the learned surgeon with whom my colleagues and myself have established life-long friendship and respect, with a great sense of gratitude.

On a final note I wish to ask what will be the fate of prospective heart transplantees in the absence of Mr Manché, being the only surgeon in Malta who can perform heart transplants. What cost would this involve with the government having to send patients abroad or bringing over foreign surgeons? Thousands of liri, I'm sure.

Can we afford it? Let good sense prevail.