With all the scandals sprouting out on a daily basis, many people are beginning to seriously wonder if we will ever know the truth about our government's doings. Even the most avid follower of local politics finds it difficult to keep up with what is really going on. This, of course, includes the health sector.

Those who followed the latest discussions in the Public Accounts Committee may be misled into thinking that government finally saw the light and agreed to have the Vitals Global Healthcare contracts scrutinized by the Auditor General.

Suit yourself. I have long given up on believing that the likes of Joseph Muscat and his crew could be honest or have honest intentions.

When, on Monday, Chris Fearne appeared on all our media, accompanied by two other clean-looking colleagues, handing his letter to the PAC chairman asking for the Vitals contracts to be probed by the Auditor General, some may have thought that Fearne wants the people to know the whole truth.

Alas, this was no exercise in public repentance by a minister out of remorse. It was rather once again another rabbit out of the hat.

Chris Fearne and his colleagues know all too well that the Auditor General has a long list of things to do. This list includes some very complicated and hot contracts which need to be scrutinized. Like the contracts dealing with our energy sector.

Government is fully aware that the Auditor General will stick to the chronological order in which the tasks given to him are submitted. This means that, although the Vitals contracts are in fact of huge national importance, they will not be seen before other documents submitted earlier in this Parliament.

So, for those who naively believe that government has in fact made a U-turn, I assure you that this is no U-turn at all. It is simply the familiar trick of putting a document at the bottom of the pile. By the time the NAO gets to it our country will have a new legislature. This document will not be seen before the next general election.

Of course, things could be different. While we are all waiting for the NAO to do their meticulous job, the PAC could have opened a fully fledged discussion on the contracts. But our honest, transparent government would not have this at all.

Had the Public Accounts Committee been allowed to do its job on these contracts, then yes, I would believe that Muscat’s government has nothing to hide in this contract.

Unfortunately, our focus on the Vitals contracts may have also distracted the media, and the public in general, from other issues which are just as urgent and important for patients.

Hot issues which are pertinent to the discussion on health and the well-being of our nation include prevention. The Euro Heart Index 2015 is showing that “Maltese heart care fights an uphill battle against poor lifestyle” where Malta is ranking 20th among 30 measured countries.

According to EHI project director, Dr Cebolla, “Malta stands out for a life-threatening combination of obesity in all segments of the population and (possibly for that reason) high prevalence of diabetes. There is also a lack of efficient and coordinated structure of heart care. Together these factors cause high levels of heart-related mortality."

Perhaps Chris Fearne should start telling us how he is going to address this issue concretely and effectively.