Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said that the government is close to reaching an agreement with Steward Health Care over the revision of certain aspects of the concession agreement.

Speaking to the press, Fearne said that the government had initiated talks with Steward Health Care over a year and a half ago over certain aspects of the concession. “There were parts of the concession we were not content with, in terms of how they were working. Discussions are at an advanced stage and we have reached the point where decisions will be announced.”

The government had signed an agreement with Vitals Global Health Care (VGH)  through which the company was to run three hospitals – Gozo General, St Luke’s and Karin Grech. The deal was signed when Konrad Mizzi was Health Minister. Steward Health Care had later taken over the concession from VGH.

Former Opposition Leader and PN MP Adrian Delia had initiated a court case to take back the three hospitals from the concessionaire, which is still ongoing.