People in public service who rode on the bandwagon of lies regarding the death of Stephen Mangion should shoulder responsibility, Health Minister Jo-Etienne has said.

He held a press conference in which he was addressing the recently concluded magisterial inquiry into the death of former police officer Stephen Mangion.

The minister stopped short of mentioning who should carry responsibility. When prompted with names like Jason Azzopardi, Adrian Delia, Ian Vassallo Hagi, and asked if they should carry responsibility, he said: "Don't you agree?"

Turning to Mater Dei, he said that people believing what had been said about the incident "are going to the emergency department and attacking the people taking care of them. This is a situation that I never thought could happen in our country," Abela remarked.

"I think I am delivering my message in the clearest and most honest way. Let us not repeat a situation where we jump to unjustified conclusions." He continued that people with certain responsibilities should be more vigilant and refrain from spreading misinformation. He referred to such discourse as fake news and emphasised that responsibility should be shouldered "for the damage done to our country's health services".

Speaking about the magisterial inquiry, Abela spoke of how the process verbal of the inquiry was made public as the Ministry agreed with the magistrate about this not being a usual case. He said that the magistrate had recommended for the process verbal to be made public because of the public alarm regarding certain allegations surrounding the case, and added that the public should be informed about what happened on the night of Mangion's death.

The Health Minister said that he has also enacted a ministerial inquiry, which he said has different aims than those of a magisterial inquiry. "A magisterial inquiry searches for liability whilst a ministerial inquiry looks at the processes." He remarked that the two are totally separate inquiries, "not just because the ones leading the inquiry are separate", but also because the process and aim of both inquiries are different, he said.

Having said that, he commented that he needs to be careful in how he speaks so as not to prejudice the ministerial inquiry. "I am sorry for the family and friends of Mangion. According to the magisterial inquiry report, everything was done to help."

Abela said that he is awaiting the conclusion of the ministerial inquiry, which he said will be different from the magisterial inquiry. He added that he is prepared to publish the ministerial inquiry once it is concluded. "We are not hiding from scrutiny," he remarked.

He spoke about the attitude and actions taken around the situation. "Everyone knows what was said on social media, and not just there." After saying this, he began quoting statements made by people, in which the situation surrounding Mangion was referred to as an "involuntary homicide, manslaughter, a total disaster of the entire Mater Dei system," etc.

The Minister questioned why people would use social media and a natural death to try to damage the morale of health workers. "Who will shoulder the responsibility?" He questioned, as he continued that certain people have created "irresponsible hype" which has led to emergency workers being insulted at their place of work. Abela remarked that people say they do not want to attack anyone whilst then attacking the system with the carers and doctors "doing all they can to deliver a quality service to our citizens".

Abela remarked that he understands if people aim criticism at him and if the Opposition calls for his resignation, but said that attacking employees and the health system is something different. "If we have arrived at a point where we are using such an occasion to shoot the political ball, then I do not know where we will arrive."

He said that the emergency and health services in general are an important pillar of the country. "I am not saying that there are not things that need to be fixed, if that was the case there would be no need for a Health Minister... We fix things in the best way possible, we incentivise both financially and non-financially."

"I am being clear enough. For people who are in public service, which you are as an MP, it is important to wait for the facts to come out with the inquiry," he said in response to a question.

The Health Minister said that 40 new nurses have begun working at Mater Dei from Tuesday. "We want more staff working in emergency... We want everyone who enters the emergency department to be seen to immediately, especially those in more urgent situations."

He continued that the process to improve things is moving along slowly "because there is resistance from the MAM (Medical Association of Malta). The time has come to say things as they are."

"We are trying to recognise the good and the shortcomings that need to be fixed," he said. He concluded by saying that the government is trying to do its part, but that "an association is functioning in a more volatile and difficult manner than the Opposition".