Opposition health spokesman Dr Michael Farrugia opened the parliamentary debate on Monday about the proposed amendments to the Medicines Act by saying that Malta ranks among the most expensive countries in regard to medicine prices.

Medicine prices in Malta are six per cent above the average compared to the other European Union countries.

Dr Farrugia questioned why no one from government has said how much Skanska is to be paid less due to the fact that some of the projects it was supposed to implement have been moved elsewhere. By way of an example, Dr Farrugia mentioned the shifting of the department of oncology.

Every reform has to be made with the person as the centre of any necessary change. The person has to be considered as a person and not as a number. The Labour Party wants a better future for the Maltese and the Gozitans, he said.

Labour MP Silvio Parnis commenced his speech by saying that the Labour Party had a very good record in the health sector. Mr Parnis said he hoped that the new hospital will open without any faults. All that is good must be sustained as the people deserve the best service, he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care Helen D’Amato said that the main beneficiaries of the health sector are the elderly as they are among the most vulnerable people. The Nationalist Party is a party that promises and effects, she said. There have been a lot of improvements in both the health and elderly sector. A recent innovation in day care centres is the teaching of computer and the internet to the elderly.

Mrs D’Amato thanked all those who are contributing towards the success that is being achieved in the health sector. There are many people involved and everyone ought to be given credit in such a success, she said. The parliamentary secretary mentioned the doctors who are trained in Malta and then go to work abroad, adding that it is a shame that we are losing many of these professionals. However when these doctors come back, they would bring their skills with them.

Nationalist MP Dr Michael Asciak criticised the Labour Party as being a party with a mediocre mentality.

Dr Asciak said that the Labour Party is the epitomy of mediocrity and it is very rare that one hears a good comment from the opposition. The new hospital is going to be state of the art and a centre of medical excellency in the Mediterranean.

Dr Asciak insisted that the element of trust is of fundamental importance and said: “The Labour Party betrays the trust of the people.” When the Nationalist Party is in government, the expectancy of the people rises.

After a heated exchange between Dr Michael Farrugia and Dr Michael Asciak, the latter concluded his speech by saying that the pharmacy of your choice scheme introduced by the Nationalist Party promises to be a success.

The debate ended with Labour spokesman for education Karmenu Abela insisting that we should be objective.

Mr Abela said that it would be a mistake if the government does not continue in the footsteps of the government preceding it.