The Labour Party’s driving force is channelling governance away from the hands of the few. In the process, the PL will continue to bring multiple stakeholders together to make a significant difference to the quality of people’s lives. As in other sectors, we shall work to bring all stakeholders together in a trustworthy manner, sharing a common vision and an understanding of what needs to be done to improve our health sector.

The strengths and weaknesses of our health sector are well known to both patients and practitioners. We have, therefore, taken account of our community’s needs and identified which problems should be prioritised to ensure that resources are directed towards the most important areas first.

We have chosen – and will continue to choose, in tandem with all stakeholders – policies and programmes that have been shown to work in practical terms. We have explored – and will continue to explore – evidence-informed policies and programmes to address priority issues. We will work relentlessly to implement policies that respond to both communal and unique needs. Above all, we will ensure that the best health care will be available free-of-charge to everyone.

Based on these dynamic principals, the Labour Party has listed an initial range of initiatives in the health sector that should translate into a better quality of life for us all.

Labour is determined to reduce waiting lists and will do this through partnerships with private hospitals.

Public Private Partnerships will see patients receiving free services from private hospitals. Pressure on Mater Dei will be eased as a Labour government will increase primary health care expenditure by €8 million, modernising and expanding health centres and opening new ones, and a further €1 million will be spent on modernising Gozo General Hospital.

The system for hospital appointments will be improved to reduce waiting times and overcrowding. A call centre will be set up to provide information and guidance on operations, waiting lists and other services.

A national project will be set up to deliver medication to the homes of elderly people over 70, to the severely disabled and to those who are immobile. Professionals would deliver the medicines: we intend to involve trained people such as retired nurses.

The misguided policies implemented by the current Nationalist government have led to a situation where we are left with a shortage of nurses at a time when the need for nursing staff is increasing. A Labour government will address this issue and young people will be encouraged to consider nursing as a career. We will also put in place measures to address the chronic problems regarding the provision of free medication.

These are but a few of the measures that the PL is committed to implement to rectify weaknesses caused by the lack of planning and vision of the present government. These measures will also motivate the dedicated professional personnel who render such an invaluable service to our communities.

The contribution of a robust health system to any community is not only intrinsically important but instrumentally so. The PL’s commitment to rectify evident weaknesses in tandem with all stakeholders will therefore be unstinted. 

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi is the President of the Labour Party