From Mr E. Privitera

A billboard shows two children kissing their grandmother under the caption: Is-Sahha! L-Aqwa Servizz b’Xejn. I am more than convinced that gonzipn put up this billboard to cover up their plans to make certain health services no longer free for all. I became more convinced when I heard Dr Alfred Sant state that he has a document in his possession which proves that the Nationalist Party has plans to introduce payment for certain health services.

I had already been convinced of this after I read an interview carried out by journalist Vanessa Macdonald with Minister for Health Dr Deguara in The Times of 30 August 2007. The clearest indication of what lies in store in case the Maltese people are again lumbered with the present arrogant and spendthrift government, I found in Dr Deguara’s response to Vanessa Macdonald’s searching question on “Free prescriptions”.

I am here reproducing that part of the interview as reported by Vanessa Macdonald. Under the sub-heading “Free prescriptions” she wrote: “Dr Deguara thinks the whole system needs to be looked at again, especially with regard to the system of yellow cards for chronic sufferers which is not means tested and not capped. We are moving towards a system that does not respect our values of solidarity. People who can afford medicines are getting them free merely because their condition is classified as chronic (my italics). The pink card system for those low-income families is capped and overall seems quite stable. Of course, you have to have suitable means testing and better verification of what is being earned.”

I ask: “Why would a minister responsible for the health sector say this publicly unless he knows of plans to cut down drastically the issue of free medicines, keeping them free only for those who, after “suitable means testing”, result in being a low income earner!

Dr Deguara’s words: “People who can afford medicines are getting them free merely (!) because their condition is classified as chronic,” should send shivers down the spine of all those whose condition is “chronic” and are not classified as low income earners!

Incidentally, while I was typing this letter I heard a Net TV journalist remind Dr Sant of the 50-cent charge introduced by his government on medicine prescriptions. Quite obviously this young Nationalist Party journalist was unaware of Dr Deguara’s reply to a question by Vanessa Macdonald, precisely on that 50-cent charge. This is how Dr Deguara replied: “We were prepared to back this measure as long as it was not across the board… then in the exuberance after we won the election, we did away with it. The principle of it was not wrong, it was the way it was done that we objected to!” But they didn’t say this at the time, that “the principle of it was not wrong,” did they?

No wonder they have put up that billboard. They must know that Dr Sant can prove that what they are saying, namely, that health services under a gonzipn government will remain free for all is all a big lie!

Eddy Privitera

MOSTA