Prime Minister Joseph Muscat claimed that the replacement of the current public hospital in Gozo for a partly privatised one through a contract with Vitals Healthcare ltd will generate some €50 million a year to the economy of Gozo by attracting medical tourism.

Dr Muscat was addressing a political activity in Xewkija, Gozo.

He slammed the PN for saying they would remove investment for Gozo, through preventing the new Gozitan hospital.

“The new hospital means new services, a new pharmacy, new laboratories, new cancer research and cure facilities, new mental health services and much more”.

Dr Muscat said that medical tourism, meaning foreigners coming to the new hospital in Gozo for specific medical interventions, will generate some €4 million a year for the hospital and €50 million overall to the Gozitan economy when factoring in amount spent on accommodation, on food and other expenses.

Malta is 21 days away from deciding between genuine proposals that are there assist people to increase their quality of life and the PN’s negativities, lies and spin, Dr Muscat said.

“This is the first government to increase pensions in 25 years. This is the government that will give Malta a new face by placing the electricity wires underground and removing the current eyesores.

“How can pensioners ever trust the PN after they were ignored after 25 years?”

Dr Muscat claimed that the PN would start increasing several taxes and duties, such as VAT and  income tax.

He said that the current electoral proposals are reasonable and can be done, and that this government’s guarantees are the last four years.

He said that Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil had one thing to do in four years – to create proposals to present to the people when the next election.

The PN presented its electoral manifesto for Gozo yesterday, Dr Muscat blasted the PN for coming up with proposals that have already started or are to be implemented by this government (74 of the PN’s 100 proposals for Gozo).

Dr Muscat said that some of the proposals are copied, and that original proposals do not include information on where the funds are coming from. He called some proposals positive, adding that the PL is taking some under advisement, but questioned how credible Dr Busuttil is on Gozo.

He proudly proclaimed that under this current government 1,500 more Gozitans began working full time, and unemployment dropped to under 5%, adding that the choice is clear.

Labour MP Silvio Parnis, also addressing the activity, called the Opposition Leader the biggest liar to ever plague the PN.

Family Minister Michael Farrugia slammed the PN – Partit Demokratiku coalition, saying that the only thing which unites them is their hatred for the PL and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. He blasted the PN’s pension proposals to turn the national minimum pension equivalent to the national minimum wage, saying that their numbers are mistaken and this measure actually affects 39,000 people.

He also said that it was rich of the PN to speak of pensions when the party failed to update them to reflect the increasing cost of living for 25 years.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressed political activity in Xewkija, Gozo. You may follow the event from the below link: