'We know we can deliver on all our promises', Robert Abela tells supporters

Prime Minister Robert Abela insisted on Tuesday that his campaign's growing list of election promises was fully costed and sustainable, even as he acknowledged that the rebuilding of the St Luke's, Karin Grech and Gozo hospitals would take up to 15 years to complete.

Speaking at a ‘Tinda Ideat’ panel discussion in San Ġwann, Abela defended the Labour Party’s manifesto against critics of its spending, claiming that a "strong, resilient economy" allows for the raft of generous measures.

"We never promised anything to anyone without costing our measures and knowing exactly how they will impact our economy," Abela said.

"This plan aligns with our other plans to bring the deficit down and takes into account our projections for the coming years, which is why we can confidently say we can deliver on every promise."

People could take his word because Labour has a track record for building a strong, resilient economy and for delivering on its promises through competent leadership, he said.

Health and family

Abela said Labour's manifesto focused on the two most important things for people: health and family life. But it was not all about the money, he said. The party has a wellbeing strategy aimed at improving the quality of life by 25%.

To this end, he reminded supporters that Labour would be extending maternity and paternity leave if re-elected, and would make it easier for workers to work more flexibly.

Health services would see expanded medical screening for more diseases, including several forms of cancer.

The health sector would also see better infrastructure, he said, namely a new 300-bed hospital for the elderly, an extension of the Mater Dei emergency department and the construction of a dedicated mental health hospital on the Mater Dei grounds.

Supporters gathered in San Ġwann's Taż-Żwejt area on Tuesday evening. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

He also confirmed that the long-controversial refurbishment of St Luke’s, Karin Grech, and Gozo General Hospital remains a longer-term project spanning the next decade and a half.

Health Minister JoEtienne Abela and Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg announced a €1.5 billion revamp of the three hospitals on Monday, and said the masterplan was costed and realistic.

The Prime Minister echoed that statement on Tuesday.

"We were guided by some of the best experts in the field before we announced what we intend to do with those hospitals," he told supporters.

"That’s how things should be done. We have a long-term vision."

The panel at the event intended to showcase the real-world impact of government health policies. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Personal testimonies on IVF and disability

Mater Dei Hospital consultant Charles Mallia Azzopardi was also on the panel and said the government's vision in healthcare reflected in Malta's improving life expectancy.

He said Malta leads Europe with a healthy life expectancy of 71 years - eight years above the EU average. The healthy life expectancy is the metric that estimates the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health before health problems begin to emerge.

The general life expectancy in Malta is also almost two years higher than the European average, he said.

Abela reassured supporters that his party was able to deliver on all promises, no matter how ambitious they sounded. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The panel at the event intended to showcase the real-world impact of government health policies. Janice Sant, who recently became a mother through IVF, shared her struggle with genetic fertility issues that were identified in 2022.

"Thanks to the government’s IVF treatment offers, we went through the procedure and now I’ve become a mother," she said.

She also shared how special last Sunday's Mother's Day celebration was to her and her family.

"For the first time I spent the day with my daughter and for the first time I could tell other mothers 'happy mother's day' and hear them say it back," she said.

The Prime Minister used the opportunity to pledge that, if re-elected, PGTM (Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic disorders) testing would be expanded to cover a wider range of conditions.

Occupational therapist Valerie Brincat, a mother of three adult children with autism, also spoke on the evolution of state support.

Comparing the current landscape to the birth of her eldest son 24 years ago, she remarked that services have significantly improved, specifically through recent improvements in mental health services.