While addressing a conference organised by the Association of Emergency Professionals, Minister for Energy and Health Dr Konrad Mizzi announced that project teams will be set-up to improve management systems on focused projects in the health sector.

Dr Mizzi added that “financial and procurement functions will also need to be improved and, in this respect, a Chief Financial and Procurement Officer has been appointed and will form an integral part of the Health Leadership Team.”

He said that the Government plans to engage into a long-term plan to develop the health care sector while simultaneously focusing on the short-term priorities. “The reports that have been commissioned will serve as the basis to develop a number of improvement projects.”

The Minister for Energy and Health praised all health professionals for their sterling work and said that the Government is committed to address the constraints to enable them to work in a better environment, thereby improving the health sector.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mr Chris Fearne said that the Government has already stated that this sector will be given priority, as the patient has to be the focal point of the health sector, provided with, not only the best possible care available, but care which is given with dignity.

Mr Fearne said that he strongly believes that we have to continue working as a team, and with all the stakeholders in the medical sector on board, he believes that this can be achieved.

“Patients should not be just ‘numbers,’ but the health care professional should treat those entrusted in their care, even though for a short period, as ‘family,'” said the Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

Mr. Fearne, who until just 4 days ago was the Clinical Chairman of the Department of Surgery, said that as a paediatric surgeon, with an experience of more than 30 years in the medical field, he knows firsthand that it is not easy to deal with the seriously sick day in and day out.

“I also know that it is not an easy task to continuously break uncomfortable news to your patients and their relatives and act as their focal point for their difficult questions, and act as their ‘comfort zone’,” said Mr. Fearne, “However we also recognise that it must be the greatest of privileges to be able to save lives and ease the pain for many.”

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