The much-vaunted €200 million deal signed with Barts medical school turns out to be a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Economy Minister Chris Cardona said in Parliament this evening.  

Former Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia had announced that a MoU had been signed with Barts back in February 2014.

Replying to a number of questions by MPs, Dr Cardona refused to say where Barts will be operating from or how the land in Gozo will be handed over to the medical school.

Dr Cardona said the agreement with Barts is a “done deal,” having been confirmed by its top officials, and the agreement is in the process of being crystallised.

PN MP Claudio Grech questioned where Barts will be operating from if it is a “done deal,” but Dr Cardona was unable to reply.

Instead, Dr Cardona said Barts is committed to investing €200 million, and is also committed to attracting a set number of students as well as offering a number of placements.

The deal was announced two weeks ago by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Dr Muscat said the agreement will see the opening of a campus hosting a medical and dental school run by Queen Mary University of London.