The government must be clear on its plans to expans the A&E department at MAter Dei Hospital and the new mental health wards, the Nationalist Party said Tuesday.

Ten days ago, the call for tenders closed for the expansion of the Emergency Department and for a new mental health hospital. We have now learned that only one bid was submitted - and that it is nearly double the Government's estimated cost for both projects, the PN says.

According to a report by The Shift News, the sole submitted offer totalled €140 million - almost twice the Government's estimate of €80 million, as stated in the tender document itself.

Even more concerning is the revelation that there was a second offer that could not be submitted due to a "technical" issue.

The government's tender for the design and construction of new mental health wards and the extension of the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital closed ten days ago - on 4th April - and the Department of Contracts officially received just one bid. At least, that's the official version.

In reality, there was at least one other offer that could not be submitted due to what has been described as a system error.

The way this process has been handled raises serious concerns, the PN said, asking whether it is true that another party tried to submit a bid but was unable to do so.

And is it true that, although the Department of Contracts was immediately informed and promised to check directly with the software administrator in Greece, nothing was done to address the issue?

Is it correct that initially it was stated the process would be halted because of this issue, only for someone to later order that it proceed unchanged? And that only the one offer that was successfully submitted would be considered valid? Who gave that order, and why?

If the only accepted bid is double the government's own estimate, is it possible the government does not even know the real market value of what it is requesting? It is unacceptable that the government cannot even carry out a proper cost evaluation.

The Partit Nazzjonalista will not allow the Government to once again play with the health of the Maltese and Gozitan people.

After the disastrous experience of the Vitals and Steward scandals, it is clear the Government has learned nothing. The PN is determined to ensure that such a theft is never repeated, the party said.

We will not allow anyone to gamble with the health of the Maltese people again. We will not allow them to steal from us again.