PN MP slams investment made by VGH, when compared with amount given by government

PN MP Claudette Buttigieg slammed the investment made by Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH), when compared with the funds government gave to the private company.

Quoting an article penned by The Malta Independent regarding an announcement the company made regarding a €2 million investment in a nursing course, she said that government gave the company €16.5 million in total last year.

She also slammed the fact that VGH CEO Armin Ernst said that the €4 million given to Karen Grech Hospital were not to be used to increase bed capacity, but were to be used for paying salaries and for operational costs.

She then referred to an article she herself penned. “Let’s remember that government announced that salaries for all health professionals and healthcare employees will remain on the national payroll, but maybe VGH has been wildly recruiting to improve the service.

“In the first press release VGH released, it said it will employ new persons. It said that they employed five occupational therapists and three physiotherapists. There was another release last December, where the leadership team was announced. Aside from Dr Ernst, there was a total of nine. According to the company’s website, they hired 17 people.”

She said that government did not promise a company which we would give €16.5 million for wages, and not for an increase in beds or to improve the services. Government said VGH would invest €200 million. They are supposed to be investing, yet we are giving VGH more than they are investing.

VGH did not say whether these nurses would only work with VGH or not. She also questioned how government plans to address the nursing shortage until this new degree bears fruit, which would be in three years’ time.