The highest levels of care would be achieved in Malta through the service of family doctors, Mater Dei Hospital, the pharmacy of your choice scheme and electronic identity cards, the Prime Minister told members of the Malta College of Family Doctors, whom he met in a consultation exercise to help in the drafting of the Nationalist Party’s electoral programme.

The PN, Dr Gonzi said, had already indicated where it wanted to take Malta at every level. The vision for 2015 would lead Malta to be among the best in its region. The main points in that vision were information technology, the financial sector, manufacturing services, health, education, tourism, and all these sectors in the Gozo niche.

There was a strong public response to the pharmacy of your choice scheme Dr Gonzi said, going on to refer to the changeover to the European currency, which he described as a huge achievement for Malta. Through the electronic identity cards patients would get the best possible service under the patient registration system, with doctors being able to access the central system.

Dr Mario Grixti, president of the family doctors’ college, said the Prime Minister had touched all points involved in primary care. Even visiting professional people said that Malta was highly advanced in the health sector. With the patient registration system Malta could achieve the highest levels of primary care, he added.

Dr Gonzi also referred to the PN vision for 2015 at a meeting he had with the Malta Chamber of Planners. He said Malta needed to develop in a sustainable manner. Chamber president Bjorn Bonello said the chamber had wanted to meet with the Nationalist Party to present their proposals on protecting the environment and on sustainable development.

The Prime Minister also met representatives of the Cana Movement, Caritas and the Diocesan Family Commission, when he pointed out the measures introduced by the government in this legislature. Measures in the past included the pensions reform, tax credits for families bringing up children with a disability, increases in children’s allowances, teleworking and broadband, he said.

There had also been many financial measures to support families and the government’s policy was that to help people it had to help families as best it could. Cana Movement director Fr Joe Mizzi said Malta needed to continue investing to impart parental skills to people from childhood days. The government, the Church and family organisations should work to strengthen the family.