Health Minister Joe Cassar denied yesterday that the health budget had decreased, insisting that services affecting patients have remained untouched.

Addressing a press conference at the Qormi health centre, Dr Cassar denied statements made by the Labour Party and said there was actually a €16.7 million increase in the budget for services to patients this year.

These include a €170,000 increase in special treatment by foreign experts, a €575,000 increase in the primary care sector, a €700,000 increase in the Pharmacy of Your Choice system, a €500,000 increase on cancer screening, and a further €100,000 investment on the national cancer plan, among others, said Dr Cassar.

He said details of the colorectal cancer screening programme are expected to be announced at the end of April.

Jackie Camilleri, the health ministry’s chief financial officer, explained that it is the original budget allocation that was revised (as happens every year), not the actual budget.

Last week, PL spokesperson for health Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said the health minister should have explained how the different sectors will be affected as a result of the budget revision.

Among other things, she said over-time cuts can have dangerous consequences; the Mount Carmel Young Persons Unit is only manned by two nurses, for instance. The staff complement during the night at the same hospital is also down to skeleton staff and Dr Coleiro Preca questioned whether care workers will be faced with more pressure, since there are times when there is only one nurse and one nursing aid per ward.

She also questioned whether the government can be taken seriously when it has been speaking so much of the need for a primary health care reform when less money is being made available.