The Health Ministry is moving to recover millions in unpaid bills from third country nationals – some €3 million from Mater Dei Hospital alone – and has chosen a company specifically to carry out this task.

Health Minister Chris Fearne had explained in December, during a business breakfast organized by The Malta Business Weekly, that third country nationals (anyone excluding EU citizens) are not entitled to free healthcare and that these individuals have to pay for health services provided by the state. This covers anything except for emergency services.

EU citizens are not billed but their respective governments are then invoiced by the Health Entitlement Unit.

While the ministry did not specify the total amount to be recovered, Mater Dei CEO Ivan Falzon told this newspaper that the state general hospital alone is owed over €3 million, mainly by third country nationals.

This does not include bills racked up at any other state hospitals, which include the Gozo General Hospital, or the regional health centres.

Mr Falzon explained that the hospital issues around €2million in invoices a year to third country nationals.

The Health Ministry had told this newspaper that around 30,000 invoices were issued in 2016 and that there was still “an applicable amount that remains uncollected. It failed, however, to give a breakdown of third country nationals who made use of Malta’s health services, and who have still not paid, by nationality.

The ministry said it appointed a private company to increase billing and collection efficiency. “The company was chosen after a tendering process. At the moment discussions to establish the terms of reference within which the company will be operating are ongoing. It is envisaged that a contract will be signed in the coming weeks.”