The call for tenders for an Integrated Health Information System for Mater Dei Hospital has been cancelled following advice given to the government by the attorney general, a department of information statement said yesterday.

After the police took action against some people in connection with the tender call, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi sought advice from the attorney general on the implications this could have had on the process to award the tender.

This advice, given to the PM on Friday, was that the tender process was vitiated and should be cancelled.

Yesterday morning, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed this advice and agreed that the Prime Minister should ask the director of contracts to stop and cancel the whole process.

Dr Gonzi sent a letter to this effect to the director, and a new call for tenders for IT systems at the hospital will be issued in the coming days.