Former Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia today denied removing the former Director of Nursing and Midwifery Charmaine Attard at Mater Dei Hospital on the basis of her political beliefs. 

"During my tenure as Minister I  had to make countless decisions , because a Ministerial post is  in essence a decision making  role within the higher echelon's of a country's government.

"I cannot say that all  my decisions where perfect or beyond reproach.  But I can surely say in all honesty that I never redeployed anyone for reasons other than what I thought was  best for the general and overall optimal functioning of the health services.

"When I told Charmaine Attard those words, I was articulating the general feeling that had been communicated to me by some of Ms.Attard's colleagues and subordinates, not what I personally or as Minister felt.

"I am the last person in the PL who would even dream of redeploying people onthe merit of their political beliefs," Dr Farrugia said in reaction to an interview with Ms Attard carried by The Malta Independent on Sunday. 

Mrs Attard told The Malta Independent on Sunday that Dr Farrugia told her that she was not even wanted on Mater Dei’s pavement. 

She was removed from her post two months after the March 2013 general election. 

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