Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said that healthcare services in Gozo had made a leap forward under Steward Health Care.
The Nationalist Party has been calling for three hospitals currently run by Steward Health Care, to be taken back by government, arguing that millions have been wasted on the concession. The Gozo Hospital is one of them
In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Camilleri was asked to rate the service provided by Steward Health Care at the Gozo General Hospital, and whether the hospital should remain under Steward's control.
"If you were to ask Gozitan residents, who use the Gozo hospital managed by Steward today and compare it to the situation prior to 2013, there has been a very good leap in quality. Where in the past everything was going downhill and we would hear stories which at times were unbelievable had it not been for photos, today in terms of quality and service it has greatly improved and moved forward."
He said that Steward has made a number of investments, including in the service and upgrades.
"But one might ask, have they gone where we wanted them to go? I think there is a lot that still needs to be done. I understand that, even from the declarations made by the Health Minister, a discussion on the road ahead is ongoing.”
The discussion the minister is referring to regards the concession itself, on whether changes to it will be made, and Fearne has said in the past that there are three options: to do nothing and leave everything as is, to agree on something better for patients or to end the contract.
The Gozo minister said: “What I am most interested in is that the Gozitan people are served with a good service. The service is far better than what we found 10 years ago. It could be better and there could be more investment, but I leave it in the hands of Minister Fearne and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, who are negotiating and are in a delicate phase. The important thing, regardless of what the decision is, is that we continue improving the healthcare service in Gozo."
The minister was asked to provide examples in terms of what he meant by saying that more could be done. He said that certain services are currently only offered in Malta, like chemotherapy, and he wishes that more services would also be offered in Gozo.
He also said that in the coming years, if there is a need for a new hospital, then it should be built. "If I'm correct this was also one of the commitments. We must ensure that this commitment takes place, whether it remains managed by Steward or if it is taken back by the government. The way forward is to continue investing in healthcare and in healthcare facilities.”