PM confident of €200 million health plan investment

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning expressed confidence that a €200 million investment to open a new private hospital in Gozo and refurbish St Luke's Hospital as medical hubs would attract the interest of foreign investors.

Describing Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry - to open its first overseas campus in Gozo by September 2016 - as the “strategic partner,” Muscat said the government would make use of investors' money to set up the medical hubs.

The Labour leader was addressing the party faithful at the rural village of Qala, at an activity organised by the PL as part of the local councils election roadshow. Muscat said that just like the government transformed Enemalta and successfully managed to attract €320 million in investment in a debt-ridden corporation, the health sector was also being turned into an investment opportunity.

“We are looking at the same model used for Enemalta's turnaround and the energy plan. The PN had been equally sceptical, saying no one would be interested. Yet, we launched an international call and 18 consortia had expressed their interest. Same will happen with the health project,” Muscat said.

Muscat said there was a high demand for medical tourism, with patients and their relatives from the UK, the Gulf region and North Africa ready to pay for healthcare services in Malta. The prime minister insisted that a strong interest has been shown in the €200 million investment, and argued that this would create 1,200 new jobs.

Reiterating that the service would remain free for Maltese and Gozitans, Muscat said the investment would make free healthcare more sustainable. He said that the patient waiting list has been reduced, while action is being taken to alleviate the problem of bed shortage.

Muscat once again urged any Gozitan whistleblowers with information on the allegations surrounding the free construction cases in Gozo to come forward. MaltaToday this morning reports that a second whistleblower has come forward providing further details on the case, while the case had been reported to PN whip David Agius. Agius, according to the Gozitan contractor, had said he would investigate the case but he never did.

Muscat said “time was running out” and anyone with any information should immediately consult their lawyer and come forward. The PM said whistleblowers would be protected by the Whsitleblowers Act as he insisted that they would be getting at the bottom of this Pandora's box.

Muscat says spring hunting should stay

The prime minister also urged the electorate to vote in favour of spring hunting, insisting that it was a question of “tolerance and respect.”

Muscat's appeal comes as the latest MaltaToday polls - published today - shows the No camp leading by seven points.

Muscat also accused Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of working “against” the Yes vote. Both leaders have publicly declared their intention to vote in favour of Malta to continue derogating from an EU directive which bans spring hunting.

Both leaders also agreed that the political parties would stay out of the referendum campaign, leaving everything in the hands of civil society. However, this morning in Gozo once again, Muscat said he had to explain why he was voting ‘yes’.

“We all know that Simon Busuttil said he would be voting in favour of spring hunting, but he is working against it. It is clear that he is against spring hunting,” Muscat claimed, stopping short of explaining why.

According to the Labour leader who says that he never wants to touch a gun in his life, banning spring hunting would make Maltese “less” than other EU citizens.

Muscat, in a bid to convince the undecided to vote yes, admitted that there were “bullies and criminals” who thought they could do whatever they like but the government would be coming down with an iron fist.

“Whatever the result of the referendum is, the government will be even more vigilant during the hunting season,” he said.