Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday it had been Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia’s idea to ask former European Commissioner John Dalli to work within the health sector.
The previous government hid problems in the health sector well
Following Mr Dalli’s offer of help to the Government, Dr Farrugia approached the Prime Minister and said: “If you have nothing against it, we should offer him work in healthcare,” according to Dr Muscat, who was being interviewed by party-owned One Radio.
Dr Muscat praised Dr Farrugia for being a “team player” and for being conscious of the decisions that had to be taken in the health sector.
Mr Dalli, a former health minister, has been tasked with heading a reform body within the administration of Mater Dei Hospital, after having met the Prime Minister who indicated he would be given an executive role within the Government.
Dr Muscat said he saw no problem with Dr Farrugia’s suggestion and, during Friday’s meeting, told the former commissioner that getting his help in health care was a priority for the Government.
“I praise Godfrey. He is bringing together all the best elements and I believe Mr Dalli can be one of the best elements to help the sector – especially in Mater Dei,” he said.
Dr Muscat said the biggest challenge facing this government was not the country’s finances and economy but health.
“If there is a sector where the previous government hid its problems well then it is health... it is rotten… decaying from the inside.”
The Labour government found no plan for the way forward when it took over but solely management by crisis, he added.
When asked by journalist Manwel Micallef about the waiver issued to Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca, Dr Muscat denied it had been a rushed decision.
“I believe the aim was always to ensure the patient would not be negatively affected,” he said.
There was at least one patient who had to be sent abroad for an operation, which otherwise would have been done by the ophthalmic surgeon “since he does certain operations that no one else does”. This was a situation he had hoped to avoid, Dr Muscat said.
He also spoke about the public consultation sessions taking place at Castille with the ministers and parliamentary secretaries, saying that he wanted to send out a message that the Government had an open door policy.
He was impressed with the turnout and quality of discussion and said it was something that would be done twice a year. Each minister was taking note of what was being said and there would be a follow-up.
The plan was to have these meetings streamed live for all to see. Dr Muscat also mentioned the possibility of Cabinet holding its regular meetings in different localities “to understand their reality”.
Turning to the issue of precarious work contracts, Dr Muscat said was very angry to find out through the media that another one had been issued by the Department of Contracts, the same body that should have ensured it did not happen. An internal inquiry was now being held into the matter.
“One of the first internal memos we had issued as a Government was that these contracts had to be stopped and we gave a clear set of rules of what could and couldn’t be done,” he said.