Steward Healthcare is in the process of changing some top management people in Malta, Health Minister Chris Fearne told The Malta Independent.

Fearne, responding to questions by this newsroom, said that these are non-clinical managers employed by VGH. “No clinicians, or staff employed in the hospitals are being affected.”

This newsroom also sent questions to Steward Healthcare, asking them to confirm whether they have laid off some staff, and to reveal what positions these people were in and the number of persons laid off. They were also asked if there are plans for any further staff to be let go, and if yes, from what departments.

"As a physician led organization, Steward is focused above all else on delivering high quality care for patients. With a proven track record of turning around hospitals and improving care for people in cities and towns across ten U.S. states, we are confident that we can deliver world class care in Malta. Making progress will require that we also make some difficult decisions and today we decided to realign and streamline our corporate staff to shift resources to where they matter most: to upgrading and improving services within our hospitals."

"Our medical professionals on the front lines are our strongest asset, and we will be supporting our doctors, nurses, administrators, and allied healthcare staff by making additional resources available. This will come in the form of improved technology, upgrades to our facilities, and further investments in education and training." 

"Steward has earned top awards for quality and safety in the U.S. by focusing on innovation and a strong community commitment. We look forward to continuing our critical mission of enhancing the quality of life in Malta."

Steward Healthcare recently took over control of Karin Grech Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and the Gozo General Hospital, from Vitals Global Healthcare. The deal spurred quite a controversy, with the Opposition heavily criticising the whole operation.  

Opposition Leader Adrian Delia had presented a court application regarding the VGH deal, arguing that VGH had breached a number of terms and deadlines stipulated in the contract, explaining that this was the basis for his case.

Concerns have also been raised with regards to Steward being a private sector firm, and questions have arisen as to what will happen if the company doesn’t make a profit from the operation of the hospitals.