Technoline Ltd, a company which forms part of a joint venture regarding the Vincent Moran Medical Center in Paola, has issued clarifications regarding statements and articles that were published in recent weeks.
Recently, a termination notice had been sent to the contractor responsible for the Regional Hub project in Paola, the Ministry for Health had said. The Ministry said that this decision was taken following an evaluation period during which the Ministry, along with the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS), "explored every possible way to avoid this outcome and above all avoid delays in completing the works". It continued that the contractor had repeatedly failed to meet critical deadlines and caused the project to continue experiencing delays "despite best efforts and repeated attempts".
The contractors - the Ergon-Technoline consortium - had not yet provided compliance certificates the centre needs to begin operations, Health Minister Jo-Etienne Abela told the Times of Malta in September. He said that works were meant to be ready in 2022. "If we cannot start offering the service as the compliance certificates are not being given to us, the people should not suffer for it, and the government is in favour of the patients."
News reports also read in August that medical equipment was missing from the site.
The company, through its lawyer Dr Jonathan Abela Fiorentino, made reference "to numerous articles recently published in local media which contain misleading and incorrect information. My client has a number of points it wishes to raise concerning and in reply to the contents of such articles. In recent weeks, several articles have been published with respect to the Vincent Moran Medical Center in Paola, reporting on delays on this project and litigation between the main contractor and the Ministry of Health. Some of these reports stated or otherwise alluded that the delay of this project was also due to Technoline's failure to deliver the necessary medical equipment due to its inability to trade because of freezing orders imposed on it by the court in current ongoing proceedings."
Technoline Ltd, which is also one of the companies charged in relation to the hospitals deal, wanted to address these statements. "The project for the construction of Vincent Moran Medical Center was awarded to a Joint Venture between Ergon Projects Ltd and Technoline Ltd ( ETJV )." It said that Technoline Ltd only has 10% participation in the ETJV and has no controlling powers at all - with all decisions with respect to this project being taken by the lead partner, which is Ergon Projects Ltd.
It said that the supply of medical devices for the same project "was awarded to Technoline Limited in Oct 2018 - CT 3090/2017 (a totally separate contract from the Design & Build Contract, albeit dependent on the completion of the design & build of the premises in order to enable delivery of the equipment) since it was the cheapest bid, fulfilling all administrative and technical criteria."
It said that the equipment for this project has been in storage in Malta since February 2023 - "as per instructions from the client (Department of Health) project team. Client representatives have physically inspected the equipment. Subsequently Technoline Limited kept in storage the ordered equipment, whilst awaiting instructions from the client to execute delivery of the equipment to the Vincent Moran Medical Centre premises."
"The equipment has now been delivered on-site in Paola, and currently Technoline Limited is in the stage of awaiting instructions from the client to continue installation, commissioning and affect end-user training where necessary."
"Whilst the Company is precluded from commenting on ongoing court proceedings, it is pertinent to point out that since May 2024, the Court has appointed an Administrator whose remit is to safeguard the assets of the company and ensure that Technoline Limited remains a profitable business concern. The Company is therefore in a position of receiving funds and paying creditors and remunerate staff and recruit new employees. Technoline Limited can operate as a business under the scrutiny and approval of the Administrator who reports periodically to the Court with regards to the ongoing operations of the Company. Consequently, contrary to rumours and malicious communications being spread, Technoline Limited has not been, including since May 2024, in any way restricted or hindered in its trading activities. Lastly apart from elucidating how Technoline Limited has been performing these last few months, it is also appropriate to emphasise that the Company is focusing also on defending its position with regards to the alleged criminal charges it is facing and this is especially salient as it is determined to protect the livelihoods of more than 50 families who depend on it."