The Nationalist Party and Labour Party on Saturday evening exchanged accusations on the healthcare system, hours after the Medical Association of Malta issued a statement to decry "personal and very unprofessional attacks of the Health Minister" on the members of its council.

In its statement, the PN said it has been warning for a long time that the healthcare system is nearing collapse, and the latest developments, which have led the doctors' association to issue directives due to Mater Dei Hospital being unable to cope, are evidence of this.

Regrettably, we are now witnessing what was inevitable after years of poor planning and mismanagement by the Government. It is already unfortunate that the Government had to resort to private hospitals to continue providing services due to the situation at Mater Dei Hospital. It is even worse if, as reported, no consultation was held with doctors and healthcare professionals, the PN said, through its spokesman for health Adrian Delia.

The greatest tragedy, however, is that, as always, it is the patient who suffers. In this highly delicate situation, the PN will not adopt a partisan stance.

Instead, and with responsibility, we are calling on the Government to immediately sit around the table with the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) and other stakeholders to urgently find solutions in the best interest of the patients and to ensure that they do not continue to suffer.

We are ready to be there and contribute as needed. The PN said it is prepared to assist and help find remedies for the crisis facing the healthcare sector.

For the PN, the health of the Maltese and Gozitans is far too precious. It is everything, the statement said.

In reply, the Labour Party said the PN is trying to score political points on an industrial dispute concerning a sector which is highly crucial. This is another sign of the failed politics of the PN, the PL said. 

The government needs to address situations in the sector with the cooperation of private hospitals and clinics, the PL said.

The government has invested heavily in medical equipment and community services, and has also invested in human resources, including nurses who are benefiting from improved conditions, which the PN attacked and lied about, the PL said.

These lies were confirmed in two independent inquiries and the PN never apologised for its mistakes, the PL said.

The PN did not try to offer tangible solutions for the emergency department and it is common knowledge that Delia himself was very often in agreement with the government on the need to use the private sector to alleviate problems, the PL said.