New hospital owners did not have faith in people appointed by VGH - sources
A number of changes have been made in Steward Healthcare’s management as a result of a lack of faith in some of those occupying top positions, sources have told The Malta Independent.
Questions were yesterday sent to Health Minister Chris Fearne, asking him to state which positions people were being let go from. In his reply, the minister confirmed that Steward Healthcare was in the process of replacing some people occupying top managerial positions, stressing that these were non-clinical managers who had been employed by Vitals Global Healthcare.
“No clinicians, or staff employed in the hospitals are being affected.”
Sources have also said that the reason behind these changes is not financial.
This newsroom also sent questions to Steward Healthcare, asking whether the company had indeed laid off members of its staff and to reveal what posts they held, and whether the company had plans to let any more of its staff go and if so, in which departments.
A representative said: “As a physician-led organisation, Steward is focused above all else on delivering high-quality care for patients. With a proven track record of turning around hospitals and improving care for people in cities and towns across ten US states, we are confident that we can deliver world-class care in Malta. Making progress will require that we also make some difficult decisions and today we decided to realign and streamline our corporate staff to shift resources to where they matter most: to upgrading and improving services within our hospitals.”
“Our medical professionals on the front lines are our strongest asset, and we will be supporting our doctors, nurses, administrators, and allied healthcare staff by making additional resources available. This will come in the form of improved technology, upgrades to our facilities, and further investment in education and training.”
“Steward has earned top awards for quality and safety in the US by focusing on innovation and a strong community commitment. We look forward to continuing our critical mission of enhancing the quality of life in Malta.”
Steward Healthcare recently took over the management of three public hospitals – Karin Grech Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and Gozo General Hospital – from Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH).
The concession deal with VGH, originally struck when Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi still held the health portfolio, has been mired in controversy as a result of the company’s secretive ownership and lack of experience in the health sector – both of which have been heavily criticised by the Opposition – and questions surrounding the its former director, Ram Tumuluri.
Cost has also been a contentious issue, with Health Minister Fearne recently stating that €50 million given to VGH in 2016 and 2017 were for “recurring costs,” and that the government would have had to spend the same amount even if VGH had never entered the picture.
Sources within the healthcare industry have told The Malta Independent that VGH sold its 30-year concession for the three state hospitals and Barts Medical School after experiencing significant financial difficulty.