Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi has told parliament that Vitals Global Healthcare remains the concessionaire of the health services of the Gozo, Karin Grech, and St Luke’s Hospital, in spite of the acquisition of Steward Healthcare System.

Mizzi was responding to a parliamentary question tabled by MP Simon Busuttill, were he was asked to provide the documentation which authorises the transfer of shares of the three state hospitals to a private company.

“Vitals Global Healthcare is not expected to transfer its shares of the three state hospitals, rather it was and remains the concessionaire of the health services you mentioned, even with the acquisition from Steward Healthcare,” Mizzi said.

This appears to run completely contrary to statements previously made by the government and  Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, who had announced that a “transfer agreement” had been signed on 20 December between  VGH and Steward.

Mizzi has also stated in parliament and to the press that the cabinet had given its consensus for the transfer of shares.

Should, as Mizzi has told parliament, VGH remain the concessionaire it would present a much more significant problem given that sources have told The Malta Independent that VGH sold its 30-year concession for the three state hospitals and Barts Medical School after experiencing significant financial difficulty, despite of repeated assurances from the owners that funds would be injected into the company.

Reliable sources have also said that Minister Konrad Mizzi, who was the health minister until he was stripped of this remit when he was exposed to have an offshore account in Panama; and is the current Minister for public private partnerships, was aware that VGH was in dire financial straits and consequently unable to meet its construction deadlines for almost a full year.

Earlier, PN Leader Adrian Delia presented a court application to stop the transfer of the concession between VGH and Steward, and return the three state hospitals back under government control.