Mental health will be the first health priority, if the Nationalist Party is to be elected in the coming general election, according to PN Shadow Minister for Health, Claudette Buttigieg. 

Talking on a television show this afternoon, Dr Buttigieg unveiled further health proposals by the Nationalist Party, adding on to a number of pledges which were announced this morning by Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil.

"Mental health will be our number one priority as a Government" said Dr Buttigieg, expressing her concern that an increased amount of youth are having mental health issues. 

This pledge was building on Dr Busuttil's announcement this morning that the party is pledging to create a new centre of mental health 'similar to the oncology centre', in order to stop using Mount Carmel. Dr Busuttil emphasized the need to provide more support to mental health and to the crisis intervention team, who he believes should work 24 hours a day.

Other proposals mentioned by Dr Buttigieg this afternoon include giving free medicine for couples using IVF. "If we were against IVF we would not have this proposal," she said. 

Another pledge by the Nationalist Party is to create a holistic approach for the child development asessment unit (CDAU) for children with autism.  "The spectrum is quite wide and the demands of people are not being lived up to," she said. 

She also pledged incentives to encourage health in youths, including support for workplaces providing exercise spaces and initiatives as well as mentioned apps to inform youth about a variety of illnesses linked with dermetology and sexual health, amongst others. 

Health in youths - incentives for those who practise sports, for those things example exercise in workplaces will be supported by the gov. Apps on information for a cure which interests them example skin, deremtolgy, sexual health.