The Nationalist Party yesterday called on the Government to reverse its decision to charge patients wanting to use the ‘free’ IVF treatment facilities.
PN health spokesman Claudio Grech accused Labour of going back on its electoral promise by introducing, “for the first time ever”, payment to what was supposed to be a free health service.
“When, in Opposition, Labour promised us a free health service, it is now asking parents using IVF to pay for the medication that is part and parcel of the treatment. We hope that this is not the start of the end of our free health service,” Mr Grech said.
Last week, several mothers who have conceived through IVF praised the introduction of a service at Mater Dei Hospital but stressed that it could only be called ‘free’ if it also included the related medication. They said that this would cost about €2,580 for every cycle and could be prohibitive for some couples.
Mr Grech insisted said that the Health Minister should change the policy and make sure that the service would be available to all those who wanted to use it.
Mr Grech said that the PN promised a completely free IVF service and was working towards that aim.
Commenting on the Health Ministry’s budget for 2014, Mr Grech said that while the PN welcomed the continuation of certain services and their enhancement, such as more investment in the oncology sector and the introduction of free travel for both parents accompanying sick children abroad, he criticised the lack of strategy in areas like primary healthcare.
He was also critical of the fact that there was no plan to address the out-of-stock medicines situation.
Mr Grech said the Government had no idea how to solve the problem of rehabilitation and lack of beds at Mater Dei and that no extra money was allocated to continue to reduce waiting lists.
Asked how the PN will treat a report on the hospital reforms being penned by John Dalli, Mr Grech said that seeing as the author served as a minister who was also responsible for health he was sure the report would include several interesting things.
“We will look at this report with an open mind,” he said.
At the same time, he said there appeared to be lack of transparency on the report as it seemed the management of Mater Dei was not being consulted and involved.