Civil Society Network Malta is calling for private hospitals to be temporarily nationalised under public control so that the numbers of beds can be increased in preparation for the increase of Covid-19 cases that Malta is experiencing currently.

In a statement, CSN proposed that the beds in private hospitals be put under public control in order to better assist the medical professionals at work.

“Ordinarily, this would be an exceptional measure, but as we are living in extreme times, this could prove to be a valuable move,” stated CSN. “In fact, other countries have already adopted similar measures to combat a drastic influx of cases.”

CSN argued that the extreme measures of social distancing “are not sustainable in the long run. In the short-term, measures like this are able to lead to a reduction in cases by effectively limiting the exposure of Covid-19 to most of the population.”

“It is inevitable that after a few weeks, more cases will emerge as a result of the inevitable relaxation of the social distancing rules under which we are living now,” said CSN.

“If private hospitals are placed under public control now, medical professionals are afforded more time to affect the necessary preparations for the rest of the fight Malta faces in the near future,” it said.

CSN also reiterated that it sees no reason why the Government shouldn’t be providing medical staff with paid-for accommodation in 4 and 5-star hotels as a protective measure for their families.

CSN expressed its “sincerest gratitude to the team of medical professionals for the hard and selfless work they are undertaking in one of the most difficult periods in our nation’s recent history. They not only deserve praise, but all the support they might need, no matter the cost.”

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