PN pledges to rescind Steward contract, use concession money for new health services in Gozo

The Nationalist Party has pledged to immediately rescind the country’s contract with Steward Health Care which saw the privatisation of three hospitals across Malta and Gozo, and to then use the money it is paying as part of the concession to create new health services in Gozo.

Launching a set of proposals centred on Gozo’s health section, the PN’s spokesperson for Gozo Chris Said stated that a PN government would immediately rescind the controversial hospitals contract.

Said told that the National Audit Office had given a scathing assessment of the deal and found that there was “collusion” between Vitals Global Healthcare (the initial concessionaire) and the government, and that this in itself should render the contract null and void.

He said that the millions which the government is paying to Steward as part of the concession will then be used to create other, new healthcare services across Gozo.

Primary amongst those, Said revealed, is the building of a new, 400-bed Gozo General Hospital which will provide modern health care for Gozitans and also open up new niches such as medical tourism.

A PN government would also ensure that all of those who are currently working with Steward Healthcare will be integrated into the state workforce once the contract between them and the government is rescinded.

“Nobody is going to lose their jobs”, Said stated.

PN candidate Josephine Xuereb said that in its first six months, a PN government would commit to granting new chemotherapy services in Gozo and to opening an MRI service on the sister island as well.

Xuereb also said that a PN government would, within a year, set up a sufficient helicopter transport infrastructure to transfer patients between Gozo and Malta in the case of emergencies.

PN MP Kevin Cutajar said that a Nationalist government would build five small residences for the elderly, so that they can live amongst the community.

Likewise, he said, facilities for people with dementia, with mental health issues, and with disabilities would also be constructed within the community.

Despite being asked what the exact financial cost of these measures would be, Chris Said did not provide an exact figure – stopping short by saying that the proposals had been costed and that the vast majority of the expenses would be recouped by the cancellation of the Steward contract.

Asked by this newsroom whether the PN would pay a compensation fee if they break the contract, as was stipulated by a hidden clause added by then Health Minister Konrad Mizzi, which could amount to some €100 million, Said responded that the PN would do no such thing and would fight against anyone who tries to emphasise this fee.

He said that what is certain is that the PN would not be “paying for a hospital which was never built” like the Labour government had done.

The PN also believe Gozitans should vote in a referendum to decide whether a tunnel should be built connecting Malta and Gozo.

Said was fielding questions from journalists, He said that the “PN is in favour of anything which can improve accessibility between Malta and Gozo.”

“We were consistent in our beliefs – all the studies have to be done by good, competent experts. Not only should they be published, but they should be condensed and summarised to show the positives and negatives to the public, and after all the necessary consultation is done, a referendum amongst Gozitans on the proposal should be held”, Said said.