A hefty sum exceeding €1.4 million remains owed to the government healthcare services by foreigners, not entitled to free healthcare, who received treatment at Mater Dei, Minister for Health Jo Etienne Abela said on Monday. 

In a parliamentary question on Monday, Abela said that currently €1,460,245.88 is set to be collected by the government for healthcare services provided to foreigners.

He went on to point out that these individuals did not have the right to free healthcare and were treated in Mater Dei Hospital.

Abela was replying to a parliamentary question made by PN MP Claudette Buttigieg who asked for the total sum the government is yet to collect from foreign patients who received treatment but are not entitled to free healthcare.