Prime Minister Robert Abela should immediately cancel the hospitals privatisation contract while former PM Joseph Muscat and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna should shoulder the political responsibility, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said on Tuesday.

He was speaking after the publication of a National Audit Office report that found that there was collusion in the Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH) deal.

Delia said the PN has long been saying that the process was flawed at all stages, and the NAO has now confirmed that the deal was full of defects.

"The Request for Proposals was made tailor made for VGH, and the adjudication process was superficial," Delia said. "The NAO also found a breach when the government entered into an agreement with Vitals even before the RfP was issued. The government was in bed with this company even before the call was issued," he said in a televised address.

The due diligence process was also insufficient. Delia said the government knew that Vitals did not have the financial means to see the project through but awarded VGH the contract nonetheless. "They had no serious commitment to show that they could get the financing it needed. Despite all this, we entrusted them with our hospitals, our health."

The NAO report, he said, was more proof "of how this filthy scandalous deal was predetermined. It was set up for certain politicians to make money and confirms that the government robbed the public through this deal."

Delia said there have to be repercussions. "Joseph Muscat, who still goes to Castille to tell the government to give more millions to these foreigners needs to carry the political responsibility. So does Edward Scicluna, who failed to protect the interests of the Maltese."

The Finance Minister had allowed millions to be given to "foreign criminals" instead of administering the money for the benefit of the Maltese, he said.

"What will Abela do now? Will he decide in favour of Malta or in favour of criminals?"
Delia said he also expects the police to take action on this "fake process, this underhanded deal."

The police, he said, should send for all those involved in this deal, and the government should immediately terminate the contract.

"Abela has known this for at least six months. Every day is costing us a quarter of a million euro. This money should be going to help the unemployed, the sick and the homeless."

Delia said he has been fighting this case in court since February 2018, leading to personal attacks against him. "They thought I would back down, drop the fight against this contract."

These attacks increased recently, including through leaks to the media, some of which constituted a criminal act, he said.

"Yesterday, I went to the Police Commissioner and explained everything to him. I am informed that a magistrate is investigating."

"They are wrong if they think they can stop me. The more they try to silence me, the more I will work to uncover corruption."

 

 

UHM, MAM demand revocation of contract

In a joint statement, the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) and UĦM Voice of the Workers called on the government to revoke the Steward Health Care contract.

The NAO investigation, they pointed out, was carried out at their own request.

After four years, the first of three reports has come out. They said that the NAO had proved their doubts right.

"Six years after works were scheduled to start, and three years after they were scheduled to be completed, no new ward has been opened, and there is no new hospital."

The government has no option but to terminate the contract, they said. The government should also absorb all Steward employees, give them a deserving salary and give them the peace of mind they are still seeking.