After all the advances in the medical and health sector in Malta this year, the Nationalist Party wanted to improve and introduce new care services in the community, Health Minister Louis Deguara told the annual general meeting of the Nationalist Party’s pensioners association, APAN.

The Mater Dei Hospital was opened on 29 June and just this week the first medical procedures were carried out there. The state of the art hospital, where the migration process will reach its peak this month, will offer the best possible medical services.

A historic agreement was also reached in the past days between the government, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, Dr Deguara said. The country had been losing many professional people, who were seeking work abroad because of the salaries issue.

He also referred to the pharmacy of your choice scheme, which would be highly beneficial to the elderly. Those entitled to free medicines would collect them from their pharmacy, contrasting to the situation under Malta Labour Party, which had introduced a tax on medicines that were collected from hospitals, polyclinics and health centres, Dr Deguara said.

Huge investments were also being made at homes for the elderly, such as St Vincent de Paul, where a new block had been opened with 108 beds. More money was also voted for next year’s budget to help the elderly remain active.