Robert Abela and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana must immediately answer for the reckless squandering of funds in what is supposed to be the public health sector, the Nationalist Party said Friday.

While hundreds of patients wait in queues for treatment or languish on endless waiting lists, while thousands are forced to pay out of pocket for medicines, and many are begging for medical services, this Government continues to allow blatant and uncontrolled waste, the PN said.

"We have now learned that the CEO of Mount Carmel, Roseanne Camilleri, has been suspended due to serious mismanagement of public funds in two health centres during her time as CEO of Primary Healthcare," the PN said.

Under her leadership, works at the Qormi Health Centre ballooned from €56,000 to €1,000,000, and another project in Birkirkara, initially estimated at €264,000, ended up costing double. An investigation also found that her department issued multiple direct orders to a single contractor, despite tenders being required.

Just a few months ago, the Health Minister told us there was no money for a new Health Centre in the north of Malta, the PN said.

The Government has clearly lost control over how public funds are being spent, and once again it is the Maltese people who are paying the price.

Robert Abela and Clyde Caruana owe the people an explanation, the statement concluded.