‘You’re Going Straight To Step Three’: Adrian Delia Calls Out Prime Minister For Suggesting Hospitals Could Be Privatised Again
After Robert Abela suggested the Gozo, St Luke’s and Karin Grech hospitals could be privatised yet again, PN MP Adrian Delia warned that the Prime Minister doesn’t have his priorities in order.
Speaking to Lovin Malta, Delia said the government’s course of action following his recent landmark court victory should involve three steps.
“First responsibility should be widely shouldered on the Vitals debacle. Then it should bring the money [that was given to Vitals and Steward] back, all €400 million of it. Then it can start discussing options, ensuring that no one who was even close to the previous deals comes anywhere close to any possible fresh call.”
“The simple fact that we’re talking about Step 3 tells me two things. Government wants to avoid Step 1 and Step 2 at all costs, and government is walking straight into another mess.”
Abela recently pledged that work on a new Gozo Hospital – a longstanding pledge – will commence this legislature, which he said will sustain the Gozo campus of the Queen Mary University of London.
Questioned by journalists whether this project will be publicly or privately run, the Prime Minister said he is keeping his options open.
“We must first wait and see whether an appeal is filed against the court decision, but in the eventuality that the decision is confirmed we will take the hospitals back and start building a new hospital in Gozo this legislature.”
“Discussions are ongoing in terms of the timeframe and the project model – whether it will be fully public, a public-private partnership, whether another concession will be granted for all three hospitals combined or whether they will be granted separately.”
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