PN MP Chris Said slams government's management of Gozo, says general maintenance not taking place in Gozo Hospital

PN MP Chris Said has slammed government's management of Gozo, as well as Vitals Global Healthcare's management of the Gozo General Hospital.

He said the Wi-Fi in the Gozo hospital hasn't worked for weeks, as the contractor hasn't paid the contracts. "So we pay them millions, and they don't pay for Wi-Fi. Nurses need medicines for patients at night, and common medicine is not kept in the wards, meaning that they either need to wake the pharmacist up to come over or wait till morning. The situation before was that they would keep certain common medicine in the wards." He also said that the PN government spent funds to create a radiology department in Gozo, "yet now Maltese and foreign patients who pay pass those Gozitans who are waiting to use the radiology department."

"Vitals failed in their obligations", he said, adding that Barts Medical school was meant to be complete in September 2016. "Not a single brick has been built yet. Till the end of last year, the first phase of the new hospital was meant to be built, but not a single brick has been laid. General maintenance is not occurring in the Gozo General Hospital. These people were given millions, for nothing. A PN Government will review the secret scheme and while we will help those who want to invest in a private hospital in Gozo, a public hospital will remain a public hospital."

The MP criticised the state of Gozitan roads, calling them disastrous.

"The Marsalforn Road from Rabat, Mgarr road, etc, are in a disastrous state, and no maintenance including patching is taking place."

"Where some roads are being maintained, then it is not to the appropriate standards." Turning to Triq Hanaq in Nadur, he said it was resurfaced but cracked within a few months.

"I asked a number of questions regarding roadworks to the Gozo minister, yet he is running away instead of answering. "Does this mean no architect was employed on the roads where roadworks occurred, does it meant that no laboratory tests occurred to ensure the tarmac was of the right quality?"

"I asked Transport Minister Joe Mizzi about EU funds for the transport sector, and how many new roads will be laid in Gozo. He did not answer what roads will be built in Gozo, or instead gave me a list of Maltese roads. It is clear that there is no plan to build any new roads through EU funds during this funding period, which we are already halfway through."

He also criticised the lack of progress with regard to Gozo accessibility.