Il-kriżi fid-Dipartiment tal-Emerġenza tal-Isptar Mater Dei huwa ta’ tħassib. Aħna qatt ma konna u qatt m’aħna se nkunu partiġġjani dwar dan is-suġġett. Nagħrfu wkoll li f’ċertu xhur tas-sena, partikolarment fix-xitwa jkun hemm aktar pressjoni fuq is-servizz tal-emerġenza u tas-saħħa minħabba mard staġjonali. Huwa tajjeb li l-gvern jara kif jimmitiga l-pressjoni minn fuq Mater Dei, imma nixtiequ naraw ippjanar fit-tul. Sandra Gauci u Ralph Cassar għamlu dawn il-punti waqt li kienu qed jitkellmu waqt konferenza stampa quddiem il-Ministeru għas-Saħħa, l-Belt Valletta.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci qalet: Żgur, per eżempju li minbarra l-aspetti tal-allegati reati kriminali, frodi u korruzzjoni rampanti li qed jiġu mixtarra fil-qrati, inħliet ħafna enerġija, ħin, u flejjes fuq il-privatizazzjoni tal-isptarijiet ta’ Għawdex u San Luqa, mingħajr ebda riżultati pożittivi għar-residenti ta’ Malta u Għawdex. L-emfasi għandha tkun fuq servizz tas-saħħa bħala servizz essenzjali pubbliku, mhux id-diskors fuq ‘turiżmu mediku’ li nħela ħafna ħin fuqu fil-passat qrib. It-tobba u l-infermiera, u kull professjonist tas-saħħa genwin irid jgħin lin-nies u mhux joffri servizz turistiku.

Nixtieq ukoll nuri l-apprezzament tal-partit tagħna lill-ħaddiema kollha fis-servizz tas-saħħa. Il-maġġoranza assoluta ta’ dawn il-ħaddiema fis-servizz tas-saħħa pubblika jixirqilhom ir-ringrazzjament tagħna lkoll ta’ kemm jaħdmu b’dedikazzjoni favur il-morda tagħna. L-ippjanar fit-tul ifisser l-ewwelnett li jkun hemm konsistenza fil-politika dwar is-saħħa. Huwa ta’ għajb li anke jekk mill-2013 dejjem kellna gvern tal-Partit Laburista, ma kull ministru tinbidel il-politika tal-gvern, min irid aktar ċentralizazzjoni, min jipprova jifrex servizzi fil-komunità. Biex ma nsemmux id-diżastru fil-qasam tas-saħħa li ġab miegħu Konrad Mizzi, diżastru li l-pajjiż għadu ma stejqirx minnu.

Nemmnu li s-servizz tas-saħħa fil-komunità għandu jissaħħaħ dejjem iktar. It-tobba tal-familja li jaħdmu fil-komunitajiet tagħna għandhom ikunu mgħejuna fejn dan hu possibbli. Dan jista’ jsir b’diversi modi. Fost oħrajn b’għajnuna biex jitwaqqfu gruppi ta’ tobba li jingħaqdu flimkien biex joffru servizzi fi grupp. Dan isaħħaħ is-servizz mediku fil-komunità. Jeħtieġ ukoll li jiżdied l-aċċess għal testijiet b’xejn mis-servizz pubbliku tas-saħħa li tobba tal-familja fil-privat jkunu jistgħu jordnaw għall-pazjenti tagħhom skont in-natura tal-kundizzjoni li jkollu l-pazjent. L-ispiżeriji li ssieħbu fl-Ispiżerija tal-Għazla Tiegħek għandhom jingħataw iktar għajnuna sabiex l-ispazju  li jkollhom biex tobba u paramediċi jagħtu servizz lill-pazjenti jkunu mtejjeb u modernizzat. Investiment fit-tobba tal-familja li jaħdmu għal rashom hu ta’ benefiċċju għas-servizz kollu tas-saħħa. Filwaqt li għandu jkun dejjem assigurat li tibqa’ distinzjoni ċara bejn is-settur pubbliku u dak privat il-firxa ta’ servizzi fil-komunità anke mit-tobba tal-familja jista’ jnaqqas il-pressjoni fuq Mater Dei.

Is-Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Dr Ralph Cassar qal: Tul is-snin xbajna wkoll nisimgħu bit-tisħiħ tas-servizzi fil-polikliniċi, u li dawn il-kliniċi għandhom ikollhom staff u apparat biex jieħdu ħsieb ċerti tip ta’ emerġenzi. Minkejja dan, milli jgħidulna n-nies, spiss xorta jintbgħatu l-emerġenza ta’ Mater Dei. Jista’ l-Ministru tas-Saħħa jispjega x’inhi r-raġuni li l-polikliniċi mhux f’sitwazzjoni li jieħdu ħsieb ċerti emerġenzi? Hija kwestjoni ta’ nuqqas ta’ staff? Ta’ nuqqas ta’ apparat speċifiku?

Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar ippjanar fit-tul jinvolvi approċċ multi-settorjali u multi-dixxiplinarju lejn is-saħħa magħruf bħala ‘One Health’. Dan l-approċċ huwa importanti ħafna anke minħabba sfidi ġodda li se jkun qed jiffaċċja s-servizz tas-saħħa.  Studju riċenti fir-rivista xjentifika Nature juri li Malta hija l-aktar pajjiż Ewropew li se jkun affettwat miż-żieda fit-temperatura minħabba il-bidla fil-klima, żieda li diġà qed taffettwana u se ġġib aktar problemi ta’ saħħa, fosthom mewt minħabba estremitajiet ta’ sħana. Biss biss l-effetti devastanti tal-ħsara li qed nagħmlu lin-natura fil-Mediterran, fi Spanja, l-Greċja u pajjiżi oħra għandhom ikunu ta’ tagħlima għalina wkoll.

Minbarra pjan ta’ emerġenza għal din l-isfida, li tinvolvi kemm id-dipartimenti diversi tas-saħħa, tas-saħħa pubblika u tal-protezzjoni ċivili, hemm bżonn miżuri ta’ mitigazzjoni, fosthom fl-ambjent urban. It-toroq u l-pjazez tagħna ma tantx joffru dell, per eżempju. It-tniġġis tal-arja mit-traffiku jkompli jiggrava fis-sħana, bl-effetti ħżiena fuq is-saħħa u aktar imwiet. Miżuri ta’ mitigazzjoni jinkludu bidla fid-disinn tal-bini, inkluż insulation mandatorju. Programm nazzjonali ta’ insulazzjoni kontra s-sħana għandha tkun prijorità. Irridu naraw azzjoni issa.

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It is only long-term planning and consistency which will save the public health service – ADPD

The crisis unfolding at the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital is of great concern.  We were never partisan about health, and we will never be partisan about this.  We know that during certain months of the year, particularly during the winter, there is greater pressure on the emergency services and health services in general because of seasonal illnesses.  We believe that it is critical that the government sees how such pressure on Mater Dei Hospital can be alleviated, with an eye on a long-term plan. Green politicians Sandra Gauci and Ralph Cassar stressed this while addressing a press conference in front of the Ministry for Health in Valletta this morning.

ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson, Sandra Gauci, said: It is certain, for example, that besides allegations regarding criminal acts, fraud and rampant corruption that are being exposed in court, much energy, time and money has been spent on the privatisation of the Gozo Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital, without any positive results for the residents of Malta and Gozo.  Emphasis should be placed on health services such as primary health care, not ‘medical tourism’, a buzz phrase we hear from ministers from time to time.  Doctors, nurses and all health professionals seek to give medical assistance to people and not ‘provide’ a touristic product. 

I’d like to start by showing our party’s appreciation of all medical professionals working in the health sector.  The absolute majority of these workers deserve our thanks and respect for working with patients with so much dedication.  Long-term planning means that first and foremost there should be consistency regarding the politics of healthcare.  It is shameful to see that even though we have had a Labour government since 2013, with every single Minister appointed we have seen changes in the management of health services – one Minister wants more centralisation whilst another Minister then tries to make services more community-based. And this not to mention the disaster that Konrad Mizzi created in the sector as his legacy, a disastrous legacy that the country has yet to emerge from. 

We believe that community-based health services should be strengthened.  Doctors in private practice working in our communities should have every support.  This can be done in various ways, amongst which having doctors working in a team to help improve the provision of medical services in the community.  What is also necessary is granting doctors in private practice access to free public medical testing so that they are in a better position to help their patients. Pharmacies participating in the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) should be given greater assistance in ensuring that doctors and paramedics give the best possible care.  Investing in family doctors is extremely important.  Whilst the distinction between public and private care must be maintained, investing in medical services, including in family doctors, will help to reduce pressure on Mater Dei Hospital.  

ADPD – The Green Party Secretary General Dr Ralph Cassar said: Over the years we heard over and over again that services in polyclinics have been strengthened, and that these clinics have the staff and equipment for some kinds of emergencies.  Despite this, from what people tell us, patients are still being sent to the emergency department at Mater Dei. Can the Health Minister explain why polyclinics are not able to deal with such emergencies?  Is it due to a lack of staff? Is it due to a lack of equipment?

In the end, long-term planning involves a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach known as ‘One Health’. This approach is very important because of the multiple challenges that the health sector faces.  Recent studies published in the scientific journal Nature shows that Malta is the country most likely to be affected by increases in temperature due to climate change, an increase that already impacts us and which will bring about more health problems, including an increase in the mortality rate due to extreme heat.

Besides the need for an emergency plan for this challenge, which involves various health departments, public health services and civil protection, there is the need for measures to mitigate these concerns, including the urban environment planning.  Take for example our streets and town squares which do not offer much shade, and the air pollution generated by traffic exacerbating the effects of extreme heat, which in turn has a negative impact on our health.  Mitigating measures must also include changes in urban design, including mandatory insulation.  Indeed, a national programme on insulation against extreme heat should be a priority. We want action, now.