By the end of April 2024, Government’s Consolidated Fund registered a surplus of €22.9 million, the NSO said. This contrasted positively with the previous year, where Malta had registered a deficit. he largest increases were recorded under Income Tax (€272.2 million), Value Added Tax (€68.5 million) and Social Security (€68.3 million). Over this period, the interest component of the public debt servicing costs reached €83.0 million, an increase of €17.0 million when compared to the previous year. However, by the end of the same month, Central Government Debt totalled €9,927.2 million, €764.2 million higher than the corresponding month in 2023.
MAM wants stop to health privatisations, outsourcing
The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has filed a judicial protest against the further privatisation and outsourcing of government medical services. The MAM expressed support for measures that reduce hospital waiting lists for IVF or other medical procedures by outsourcing them to private facilities. However, they cited the failed Vitals PPP experience as a reason to carefully scrutinise any similar government initiatives for the privatisation of medical services. The MAM voiced serious concerns that the government’s plans to privatise IVF treatment could result in private entities profiting excessively from health investments, leading to significantly higher prices than those of European IVF services. (Maltatoday)
Self-employed cab drivers call for protest on ‘injustices’ faced
Self-employed cab drivers will protest again this Monday, citing “injustice” by government authorities. The protest will begin at 4 pm in front of Sir Paul Boffa Hospital and proceed to the Prime Minister’s office at Castille. Aron Gatt, who leads a drivers’ lobby, stated that self-employed drivers feel shortchanged due to the oversaturation of the “y-plate” market. “Competition has grown illegitimately, not organically. Transport Malta and other authorities have flooded the market by allowing companies to expand their fleets to hundreds of cars, even though they do not comply with regulations,” said Gatt, president of the Light Passenger Operators Association. (Times of Malta).
