MPs who voted in favour of the health budget in Parliament this week have betrayed the whole country, PN MP Adrian Delia has said.

Speaking during a press conference, Delia said that the framework of the hospitals deal contract was made in favour of Vitals Global Healthcare and not in favour of the nation. He added that the 36 members of parliament who voted in favour of the health budget should be held responsible for betraying the whole country.

Delia said that when the civil court asked Steward Health Care to present its evidence regarding its contractual duties, it did nothing. Yesterday the Lands Authority and Indis Malta were to present their evidence in court. He said the Lands Authority did not show any evidence, and Indis Malta presented an affidavit from their current CEO which states that he had nothing to do with the contract and its drafting and that he only answers to the company's board. Commenting on this, Delia said that it would have made much more sense if the Indis Board were to present evidence in court since their CEO has just been entrusted with this position.

Referring to the divided result in yesterday's health budget vote, Delia clarified that this was not because the Nationalist Party did not want a health budget, but rather that they advocated for better allocation of funds. He added that the Nationalist Party wants these €70 million given as per contract duties to be allocated better, as he said the nation is not benefitting.

MP Stephen Spiteri said that the UHM and MUMN had expressed their concerns regarding the treatment of professionals who were going to work in hospitals managed by Vitals Global Healthcare after it was awarded the contract back in 2016.

He said that in allowing the contract to remain in place, it showed that the government prioritised the financial benefit of the contractor more than the health rights of the Maltese citizens. He added that from the Auditor General's report, it is clear that from the lack of work done, there was no value for money from the contract.

The report said that professionals were not being treated and paid similar to those working at Mater Dei hospital. As a result, the MUMN noted that around 14 professionals resigned over 15 days from Karin Grech hospital. 

The Auditor General said that when the concession was being transferred from Vitals Health Care to Steward Health Care, there was no improvement.

Referring to evidence presented in the Auditor General's report regarding the lack of renovations at St Luke's hospital and Karin Grech hospital, the lack of necessary services in the Gozo General hospital, Spiteri said that the government was not satisfied with the result and hence decided to establish a task force to evaluate the situation when the result was already very clear.

Spiteri said that with the Auditor General's comments on the lack of documentation and conflicting account on the carrying out of contractual duties, none of the milestones established were achieved. He said it is very evident that the government can invest the sum paid to these private entities into far better causes such as the mental health sector and primary health care.

Speaking on behalf of the Nationalist Party, Spiteri said that the contract is a failed one and that the government should seek to allocate funds better.

Nationalist Party candidate Darren Carabott said that the government should seek to quicken its process in making better decisions for Malta.

Referring to the current situation at Karin Grech Hospital, he said that only 140 beds are being used out of the 270 present ones. He added that the UHM and the MUMN are not going to enter into any agreement, which puts their members in a worse position, as this is not the way to treat frontliners who did an excellent job during the peaks of this pandemic.