The Labour Party would roll out its healthcare plan in the coming days, guided by the principle that it would remain free of charge, Joseph Muscat said yesterday.

Speaking during a visit to St James Capua Hospital, in Sliema, Dr Muscat said there could be more collaboration with the private sector, such as in services that were currently being sought abroad. It was more commercially viable for such services to be given in Malta, he said.

Public-private partnerships in the health sector were important, he added, pointing out that a Labour government would set up a commission, made up of representatives of the public and private sectors, to better plan health issues.

When asked, Dr Muscat said that Labour was committed to the provision of IVF from public hospitals free of charge and also in partnership with the private sector.

He said the law approved by Parliament was the fruit of compromise between the Government and the Opposition and it had to be given a chance to work.

Dr Muscat said he believed healthcare could lead to job creation through more collaboration, especially in health tourism.

More students, he said, should be encouraged to take up healthcare studies so Malta could avoid importing foreigners because there were not enough nationals to fill vacancies.

St James Group chairman Josie Muscat called for income tax rebates on private health insurances.

He spoke on the burden that water and electricity tariffs placed on his hospital, which, he said, was energy intensive, adding that he looked forward to the reductions in rates as promised by Labour.