Opposition Leader Alex Borg has warned that a government legal notice, introduced without public explanation, will increase registration costs of new medicines in Malta and may place additional strain on patients as well as the wider healthcare system.
The government introduced a legal notice which will raise the registration costs of new medicines entering the country and the costs for pharmacists, Borg said. He said that due to this measure, patients will suffer because they will have more medicines that cost more than before.
Speaking during a Nationalist Party (PN) activity in the Senglea PN club, Borg said that the measure contradicts the government's claim that the latest Budget contains no new taxes. He said this could lead pharmaceutical companies to reconsider their presence in Malta.
Borg described the legal notice as one of the most significant omissions from the Budget presentation. He said the government was celebrating a financial package that introduced no direct taxation while simultaneously introducing changes that will increase the cost of bringing new medicines into the country. "We were told this was a Budget without new taxes," he said.
According to Borg, the result will be higher prices and stronger pressure on those who already struggle to find out-of-stock medicines. He added that pharmaceutical companies may view the added expenses as a reason to scale back operations or withdraw entirely, a development he argued would further weaken Malta's medical supply chain. "Patients could end up paying more, and companies may now have an excuse to leave if the country becomes too expensive to operate in," he said.
Borg said the issue highlights broader structural weaknesses within Malta's healthcare sector. He pointed to continuous medicine shortages, lengthy waiting lists for essential operations, and the government's failure to address ongoing hospital pressures. He reaffirmed the PN's commitment to creating a specialised board dedicated to reducing surgical waiting lists by prioritising elderly patients and individuals with complex medical needs. The PN, he added, would also fund family doctors for pensioners to ensure better continuity of care. "Our aim is peace of mind for those who need regular medical attention," he said.
Turning to the Vitals and Steward hospitals concession, Borg said the PN's long legal battle - led by Adrian Delia - resulted in the hospitals being returned to the public. He criticised the government's handling of the case, arguing that the buildings themselves stand as "evidence of the failure" that occurred. He said the PN is prepared to invest heavily in new infrastructure, including a new general hospital, a modern mental health facility, and a strengthened health system in Gozo. "The government that created the problem cannot be the one to solve it," he said.
Borg also touched on Malta's transport situation following the publication of the new transport masterplan. Borg criticised what he described as the government's inconsistent approach, saying effective mass transport requires long-term planning rather than partisan exchanges. He reiterated the PN's willingness to discuss the possibility of a metro - or other large-scale transport solutions - with the government, stressing that such projects must be considered seriously and collaboratively. Borg said he had already extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to sit down for discussions, even offering a sunset clause to ensure continuity regardless of future administrations. "We should not be using mass transport as a political tool," he said. "If we want change, we must think about future generations rather than the next election cycle."
On the Budget itself, Borg acknowledged certain positive measures, such as the increase in stipends, which he said reflects the PN's long-held support for students and the value of education. However, he argued that the Budget failed to address many of the country's most urgent issues. These include traffic congestion, medicine shortages, and work-life balance challenges. Borg said a PN-led Budget would have included an improved second-parent tax bracket, extended parental leave, and a pilot project to test the feasibility of a four-day work week. "We need to think about what families are experiencing now, not what might be addressed years down the line," he said.
Borg also spoke about transparency within politics, stating that he met his commitment to publish his personal financial declaration by the end of November. He said the PN wants to continue setting a standard of accountability and is still awaiting a similar declaration from the Prime Minister.
Discussing internal party matters, Borg dismissed suggestions that individuals who decide not to recontest are leaving a void. Instead, he said the party is seeing a strong increase in young people who are getting involved in political work. He encouraged the public to visit the PN headquarters to see this for themselves, emphasising that the level of youth participation is "impressive" and a clear indicator of renewed confidence in the party's direction. He added that internal elections have shown younger members taking on active roles and preparing to contest future general elections.
Responding to questions about his electoral strategy, Borg confirmed that he will contest the 13th District in Gozo in the next general election, saying Gozo "has always been close to my heart". He added that he will also contest a district in Malta, depending on where the party most needs him.
Borg concluded by addressing speculation about an early election. He said he accepted the leadership role fully aware of the possibility and the scale of the challenges ahead. He believes the PN has gained momentum but insisted there is still significant work to be done. "We must keep working as though the election could be called at any time," he said. "Our goal is for the PN to once again be the natural home for the Maltese and Gozitan people."