Hospital contracts to be published ‘in coming weeks’, government promises

In reply to a judicial protest filed by healthcare workers representatives, the government reiterated that the contracts with Vitals Global Healthcare will soon be published

Health Minister Chris Fearne (right) and Vitals Group Healthcare director Ram Tumuluri
Health Minister Chris Fearne (right) and Vitals Group Healthcare director Ram Tumuluri

Government has reiterated a promise to publish its contracts with Vitals Global Healthcare “in the coming weeks” in a reply filed this morning to a judicial protest tabled earlier this week by Union Haddiema Maghqudin and the Medical Association of Malta following Vitals Global Healthcare’s call for job applications.

In a court reply, the Attorney General - on behalf of the government - said it was “rebutting all of the allegations and pretensions as they are unfounded in fact and at law.”

The concession for the operation of the hospitals had been issued after a public call.

“The chosen public-private partnership model with Vitals Global Healthcare will allow the investment of around €200 million in this sector” through investment in facilities, equipment and human resources.

UHM on behalf of Allied Health Professionals and MAM, are urging Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Health Minister Chris Fearne, OPM Minister Konrad Mizzi - who was previously responsible for health – and the Directorate for Health Care Services Standards to publish an agreement between the Government and Vitals Global Healthcare.

The agreement covers the operation of Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital and the Gozo General Hospital, claiming that government's refusal to do so was seriously hindering the conclusion of negotiations and any eventual agreements.

The government said it had declared that it would be opening up the contracts mentioned by to public scrutiny in the coming weeks.

Over the past months the ministries involved had guaranteed that the rights of the public sector workers at the hospitals would not be affected and had invited all health-worker unions to discussions about the transition to the new operators.

But “for reasons known only to them, the unions [UHM and MAM] suddenly cut off all communications with government and refused to conclude the agreement” they had helped forge, government said, pointing out that it had signed agreements with the MUMN and GWU.

The collective agreement currently in force specifically provides for PPPs, because contrary to what is being said, all the unions had already agreed with the government on the right to enter into PPPs “and there is nothing preventing the government from implementing the development and management of the PPP with Vitals Global Healthcare.”