Dr Sant was speaking during Il-Hadd ma’ l-Ahbar, presented by Simone Cini on One TV. He said Dr Gonzi should apologise to citizens after he blatantly denied that his Cabinet had discussed the possibility of introducing fees in the health care system.

“The report that was prepared by the PN government itself, together with another one that can be found on the website of the Health Ministry, clearly show that the intention was there, but Dr Gonzi has repeatedly denied this.

“What right has he got to lie, particularly at the height of an electoral campaign? This certainly undermines his political and even his moral credibility,” said Dr Sant.

Speaking about miscellaneous fees mentioned in the report found on the Health Ministry’s website, Dr Sant said these are currently just a drop in the ocean and he went on to say that the health system in particular, requires a better sense of leadership.

The never-ending waiting lists, the failure to maximise the use of hospital beds, the lack of nursing staff and the fact that about 70 to 80 per cent of new doctors are seeking placements abroad, are all due to bad governance, said the Labour leader.

“We need a better organised system to be able to achieve a more efficient turnaround. More financial resources are also required and we plan to cooperate with the private sector to be able to better cope with the heavy load.

“We require a long-term strategy after having reached an agreement with all stakeholders. We plan to reduce waiting lists by 15 per cent every year and if possible surpass that. This happened in the UK, why should we not manage?”

Asked about breast cancer and the controversial National Breast Screening Programme, Dr Sant criticised the government for having suddenly promised to introduce this programme when resources are lacking.

“We only have two oncologists to serve the whole country. It is clear that we require human resources; we also need to set up a fund and consult with all those involved. Once we have all this in place, the National Breast Screening Programme would be introduced and we plan to do this within one to two years.”

He said the Labour Party’s central promise was to form a serious government that would be clean, transparent and effective.

Referring to the education sector, Dr Sant said the Labour Party wanted to give children their childhood back.

“Children are being burdened with a lot of work and cramming. As a result, Maltese children aged nine to 10 are more advanced than children in other European countries, but Maltese 15-to-16-year olds would be at a lower level than their European counterparts,” said the Labour leader.

He said it was for this reason that the MLP had come up with the reception class proposal and he said a new Labour government would change the National Minimum Curriculum and strengthen the kindergarten system and primary school.

He also pointed out the Labour Party’s intention to implement measures by means of which children would spend more time doing physical exercise and practising sport.

Ms Cini referred to part of The Malta Independent on Sunday’s editorial, saying she was scandalised by it and quoted: “So corruption is part of the national DNA. We are a Mediterranean people. And our ethical standards are unfortunately not those what are reputed to be in northern European countries.”

Ms Cini did not carry on quoting the editorial, which reads: “That does not mean that corruption should be condoned or allowed. We are not talking here of ministers being corrupt, though that can and does happen. But also the corruption that lurks below the ministerial level, in many cases down to caretaker levels.”

Reacting to Ms Cini’s comment, Dr Sant made reference to the Whistleblower Act, saying it would be a priority for a new Labour government.

“We’re saying we will give it a priority. Do we not also have a Mediterranean DNA? And yet the Nationalist government has dragged its feet in this regard,” said the Labour leader.

He also referred to the Mistra scandal, saying Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who ironically won the Green Politician of the Year award, has said he does not know to whom he rented the land he owns in Mistra.

“The land is scheduled to be protected. How could we possibly believe that he did not even know that the tenant submitted an application for a huge disco on Dr Pullicino Orlando’s land?”

He said the prime minister also carries responsibility and he was still waiting for his explanation regarding the Mistra scandal.

Replying to Ms Cini’s concluding question regarding his overall judgement of the electoral campaign so far, Dr Sant said it was characterised by an endless number of lies from the Nationalist camp.

He said the PN lied about the Labour Party’s reception class proposal, students’ stipends and the fate of workers employed on a temporary contract, among many other issued.

“We will keep our calm and continue to engage in a civilised discussion, but we will also be on the look-out for the PN’s lies. We will not let them get away with it,” asserted Dr Sant.