Nationalist Party Health spokesperson Stephen Spiteri has called out the government for “not doing the right thing for the Maltese people” by cancelling the contract it has with Steward Health Care for the transfer of St Luke’s hospital, Karen Grech hospital and the Gozo General hospital.
Addressing a press conference, Spiteri together with PN MP Adrian Delia, outlined the failures of Vitals, Steward Health Care and the government in addressing the pressing situation which is costing the Maltese populations “millions every month.” The initial deal was first signed with Vitals, with the onus of the contract then being passed on to Steward.
Spiteri said that “not only has Vitals disappeared from its original commitment and the contract was given to Stewards, but Vitals left with €38 million from public funds as profits. The €38 million were given to Vitals from the pockets of the Maltese population by the government.”
Spiteri added that with this money, the government could have provided better services and facilities in the treatment of cancer and mental health while also adding more medication on the government formulary to “improve the quality of life of the Maltese rather than the profit margins of Vitals.”
When Vitals gave the contract to Steward Health Care, the same conditions applied and the same amount of investment was required by the private contractor. Spiteri said that “Steward had failed financially and omitted to keep its end of the deal. Steward also has a clause in their contract that if they were to be asked to leave, the government would have to pay them €100 million.”
“This contract was flagged on numerous occasions by the auditor general, various nurses and doctors unions and also the UHM. The government has shown therefore that it only takes their advice when it suites them,” Spiteri said.
Spiteri said that the main aim of the opposition is for this contract to be stopped as “it is affecting the primary health services in our country and it’s limiting the services our country has to offer.”
“The interest of the private contractor is not in line with the common good of the Maltese population and Stewards are putting profits ahead of services and the government is letting them get by.”
Delia, who as Opposition Leader had filed a court case for the hospitals to be returned to the public, a case that is still going on in court, then explained that since there was collusion when the contract was given, the government has the obligation to cancel the contract on that basis.
“The biggest robbery from the Maltese people was the supposed €300 million investment Steward Health Care had to conduct in the three hospitals. Steward admitted in court that they only supposedly spent €60 million and when they presented the report, there was no supporting evidence of their €60 million investment,” Delia said.
Delia explained that Steward Health Care upon failing to provide the evidence to support their evidence, “it goes without saying that Steward have given false statements in court and have defrauded the Maltese population of millions every month.”
“This is not a case of one political party against the other but a case of what is right. It should not be a PN led government who cancels the contract but the government. I will continue to fight in order for this contract to be cancelled by court mandate,” Delia said.
Delia then called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to cancel the contract today and if not, “tomorrow he has to give an explanation as to why millions in public funds are being spent on Steward Health Care’s services.”