The Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) believes that the Budget for 2023 is “very disappointing for the health sector”.

In a statement, it stressed that the Budget completely failed to address the “major crisis” that the health sector is currently facing in Malta, including the state of Mount Carmel hospital.

“Patients in Mater Dei Hospital (MDH) will still be placed in corridors, in the medical library, and in the staff canteen since this budget failed in providing the necessary investment for such inhumane areas to be closed down,” the MUMN said in a statement.

“MUMN would have expected that the Government would embark on building new wards in MDH so that such areas will be closed down permanently.”

“Our patients deserve proper wards when being admitted to MDH and not be placed in corridors or make-shift areas with mobile toilets.”

“Currently, there are four corridors used as ‘wards’ in MDH besides the staff canteen and the medical library. That is six areas in all, areas which are ‘wards’ having no toilets, no showers, and very difficult to deliver the proper care and maintain the dignity of the patient.”

“The new wards would have been the most important investment for the Health Sector and should have been given priority since patients are suffering and paying a high price but it is clear that this budget ignored completely the needs of the patients and the ever-increasing population.”

It continued to stress that in this budget, “the so-called deficit has become more important than the lives of the Maltese people which is a great shame”.

“Another important issue that the budget failed to address was Mount Carmel Hospital. Mount Carmel Hospital not only requires a massive refurbishment but such a hospital has become too small to cater to the needs of the population.”

The union stressed how mental health is an important factor in any society, and stated that it has been neglected for years.

“Seeing this year’s budget, MUMN is disappointed to note that no finances are being allocated to actually permit Mount Carmel Hospital to address the mental well-being of our society.”

“The budget failed also to address the shortage of nurses and made no special reference to the ongoing issues of nurse shortage.”

“The budget then ‘recycled investments’ that have been mentioned in previous budgets but in fact have never even started let alone completed.”

The “recycled investments” that the MUMN referred to are, the new mental health facilities next to MDH, the refurbishment of Mount Carmel Hospital, and the new out-patients block and new care park in MDH.

“Such investments are repeated every year, in various budgets including this budget but have never taken off.”

“MUMN has no other option but to label such a budget as disappointing since also failed drastically to address the needs of the patients and shows that the Government has no intention to give the health sector the priority it deserves.”

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