I have read the letter Having it all by Pat Cassar (TMID, 21 January).

I have been to hospitals abroad and a glass of water is given to you free as it is given in every pharmacy (except one) in Malta and Gozo when you have to swallow immediately the pills that has been prescribed to you.

How much does one single water dispenser cost compared to the extraordinary cost of the Mater Dei?

So, Mrs Cassar suggested that I should have gone to the canteen and bought some kind of drink! What drink, when what all was needed was a small glass of water?

Then she wrote that if we had no money we should have gone home. That was a plain silly suggestion and totally beside the point.

She is very sure that it would have taken us only a 10-15 minute drive to arrive home! All I can tell her is to try it by driving according to law.

I think that the same writer would be also very sure to know from what my guest was suffering from.

I wish that I can have it all and free of charge, but myself, just like thousands and thousands of others including the same Mrs Cassar, simply cannot, as we all have contributed together at a high price towards the building of the Mater Dei Hospital!

That is what I am absolutely sure of!

Philip Pace

Sliema