People have a right to know if promises have been made to contractors with ties to the Labour Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party Simon Busuttil said this afternoon during a press conference.

Speaking on the topic, Dr Busuttil explained that Dr Muscat should not respond with 'no comment' to Anglu Farrugia's arguments, further accusing the PL Leader of lying about the reason for "politically assassinating Anglu Farrugia". 

The PN were revealing a new billboard entitled '‘the best service for free – Healthcare from the heart'.

Dr Busuttil proclaimed that the Health sector has been one of the most important areas for the PN over the past legislature, emphasising that if re-elected, the Party will continue to improve this sector. “I can re-affirm that all we have promised regarding quality healthcare for free will be kept”.

There are ten healthcare proposals in the PN electoral programme and Dr Busuttil spoke on three of them. The first would address the importance of primary care, which would see two new primary care centres built as well as a modernisation of those that already exist.

The second proposal discussed regarded the Centre for Rehabilitation, which would include specialised services for patients with  orthopaedic as well as respiratory problems.

The final proposal regards the fight against diabetes. Over the past four years, Dr Busuttil fought in the EU on the subject, adding that he is well versed on the topic. A Centre of Excellence in this regard would be created as 10% of the Maltese population are affected. In the coming five years, the PN Deputy Leader promised that the PN would not only build this Centre, but would ensure that it would be the best in Europe.

Other proposals were briefly discussed, making specific mention of the increase in free medicines, as well as more support for the elderly at home.  Dr Busuttil further reiterated that a more comprehensive care system for people with mobility issues would be introduced.

Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care Joe Cassar spoke on other countries in the EU, who were forced to cut their healthcare budget, emphasising that Malta has in fact increased funds. Over the past four years, the amount of chronic conditions that allow people to receive free medicines increased from 38 to 72.  The Minister added that the PN had introduced the Pharmacy of your Choice scheme. “Every patient deserves his dignity and in Malta, 80% of people are happy with the Healthcare system”. 

Minister Cassar spoke of free breast screening for cancer, mentioning that the EU called Malta a prime example of a success in this regard. He added that 13,000 more operations were completed this year when compared with the final year of St Lukes Hospital. Malta has one of the best post-graduate training programmes he said, revealing that a large number of foreign doctors come to Malta in order to study. He spoke of the MRI service, as well as the emergency care agreement with the private sector. The PL is a party which lives in the past, where they have constantly run a negative campaign, he concluded.

Replying to questions, Dr Busuttil said that the PN will reveal its finances, including how much the the PN spent on the campaign and the amount it received, however failed to mention when. He added that the names of people and organisations who donated money would not be revealed. Speaking on the Party Financing law, he concluded that the PN are committed to seeing it enacted.