Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi needs to clearly explain why the “sacrifice” of a new power station and having an LNG tanker “as ugly as the seven plagues” anchored in Marsaxlokk is necessary, particularly in the light of falling oil prices, Labour MP Marlene Farrugia said in Parliament today. 

“If we are going to make these sacrifices then we need Minister Mizzi to explain why they are necessary.”

“The population is not too worried about changes in the plan for the new gas-fired plant. The population is worried that since the March 2015 deadline there has been no clear explanation on what is happening,” Ms Farrugia said.

She said speculation on Malta’s energy plan only serves to damage the country. The Labour government inherited a challenging situation, and found a heavily indebted Enemalta.

“Enemalta used to be use as a political football, I hope this no longer happens today.”

She said guaranteeing electricity supply is not enough, as Enemalta’s debt problem has to be tackled too.

The Parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne said there is a need to focus more on healthy living rather than just curing disease.

From what we eat to how we work, plans need to be made in order to address health problems, he said.

“We know what the problems are and more importantly we know what the solutions are. While others created problems, we are finding the solutions,” Dr Fearne said on the challenges faced in the health sector.

Primary health care was totally neglected he said, and family doctors for many years were left to their own devices.

The Rabat health centre was refurbished and works are now being undertaken at the Rahal Gdid health centre. Opening hours have been extended at a number of health centres.

An agreement has been reached with the MUMN, thanks to which a number of midwives are visiting new mothers, and parents have recognised the use of this service, Dr Fearne said.

A system has been put in place ensuring that a patient will be seen by a doctor in 24 hours at Mount Carmel. 

A psychiatric intensive care unit will be opened, he announced.

He said the former Prime Minister said that waiting lists would vanish. He has now vanished from Parliament, but he left behind the waiting lists, Dr Fearne said.

These waiting lists have now been slashed, he said. From two years, one now has to wait less than a week for an angiogram.

Talks are under way with nurses in order for operations to take place after 4pm and on weekends. An agreement has already been reached with surgeons.

Mater Dei is too small, even the PN knows this. The then government had a plan to build an additional two storeys on the emergency department. An alternative site has been identified, which will increase Mater Dei’s bed count by 200. 

Former Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia warned that in a few years time, newly graduated doctors may be facing unemployment.

On the Gozo general hospital, Dr Farrugia said that in one year the Labour government has achieved more than the PN did in five years.

He said all health sections in Gozo, including primary health care should be under the Health Ministry. He implored the Gozo ministry not continue to resist possible site locations for a health centre in Rabat.

He welcomed the reduction in out of stock medicines but said that drop in out of stock medicines people suffering fibromyalgia and hyperactivity disorder should not be denied their state-funded medicines.

The out of stock medicines problem is "inexistent," apart from around five medicines, Labour MP Etienne Grech said today.

This is all down to better planning, better use of IT and centralisation of storage, he said.

At Mater Dei, operating theatres are being used "around the clock." Prior to Labour entering government, a number of operating theatres at the hospital were disused.

Human resources and space at Mater Dei are being used more efficiently and to the full, he said.

Cancer screening will be improved and pap smears for women will be added to the screening process.

The Oncology hospital will start welcoming patients this month.

There is a need to encourage the private sector to encourage more in photovoltaic panels, Labour MP Deo Debattista said.

He suggested the setting up of a public-private partnership, which will allow residents to rent out their roof space to this company. The company can then buy electricity from the company.

This will ensure that Malta will not rely solely on the power station. It will only need to be used on cloudy days he said. 

He suggested that the former landfill at Maghtab should be covered will photovoltaic panels.