The Nationalist Party on Saturday criticised the government’s lack of planning, saying that the sector has been put aside to the detriment of patients.

In a statement signed by spokesman Adrian Delia, the PN made reference to an emergency call for tenders issued by the government for assistance from private healthcare facilities in an attempt to address the problem of overcrowding and improve the quality of patient care. 

The PN said that the news of the Health Minister issuing an emergency tender in an attempt to solve the problems at Emergency is proof of the lack of planning of the government under Robert Abela even when it comes to the most important things: health. It said that this is the result of lack of planning in the health sector and the choice of an economic model based on population growth.

The PN said that it has been saying for months that the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital is in a state of emergency. It added that the PN has been saying for years that the health sector was forgotten and shelved by Labour government, a direct reference to the squandering of public money for three hospitals to be run by private companies, a deal which has now been annulled.

The PN said that it is clear now that only the PN can guarantee security and peace of mind regarding quality healthcare services.