Mizzi, who was Health Minister when the deal was signed, has been summoned in a case filed by former PN Leader Adrian Delia, who wants the deal to be scrapped.

Vitals Global Healthcare, composed of a group of investors with no experience in healthcare, was in 2015 granted a concession to upgrade and manage the St Luke’s, Karin Grech and Gozo hospitals.

After running into financial problems, Vitals ended up selling its concession to the US firm Steward Health Care in 2018.

Mizzi is likely to face questions about a controversial addendum to the contract he signed in August 2019, essentially promising Steward €100 million and the passing on of all its debt to the government in case its contract gets rescinded.

Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has insisted this was necessary to safeguard a local bank which was exposed to the deal.