Last night, the Attorney General was reported to have suggested, or about to suggest, that the government aborts the whole tender procedure for the IT equipment for Mater Dei.

Government sources told this newspaper they are not aware of such advice. An IT Ministry spokesman told this newspaper: “We are striving to ensure that all the previous objectives we set out for the IHIS are met with the least delay possible.”

On the one hand, the government is under pressure to provide the new hospital with a new IT package, although Prime Minister Gonzi has said (see page 2) that the new hospital could be opened and function for a time with its present IT system.

On the other hand, there are all kinds of complications arising from the recent development that have led to the tender process being blocked and an ongoing court case. A decision to abort the whole tender would leave the current investigations intact while proceeding with the IT requirements for the new hospital and the health service.

If the government accepts to abort the tender procedure, it will search for a way to move on. It may either issue the contract as a direct order, due to the special circumstances, or it may re-issue the whole tender.