Updated | Doctors scoff at Vitals’ ability to support Mater Dei

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has poured cold water on Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH) efforts, saying that the assistance they are offering to Mater Dei at Karin Grech hospital to alleviate pressure from the surge in patients with acute illnesses would have a “minimal effect”.

MAM dismissed claims made by Karin Grech hospital CEO Stephen Zammit that VGH was injecting investment into the infrastructure, human resources, and IT systems of the hospital.

“According to MAM’s sources, there will be two extra beds crammed into five of the larger wards to give a total capacity of 10 extra beds. There are indeed no new wards and there has been no investment to date in the capacity or infrastructure of Karin Grech hospital despite the additional €4 million provided by the government,” MAM said.

Earlier this morning, Vitals had said that due to the high number of admissions at Mater Dei hospital, Karin Grech hospital officials and national healthcare officials were working closely together to help alleviate the pressure on the state hospital to accommodate patients with acute illnesses brought about by current cold weather conditions. The company’s statement did not give any further details regarding its contribution, other than that “Karin Grech would step in and extend its services to more patients to meet the current demand.”

MAM added that the extra beds provided at Karin Grech were part of a regular practice in the winter period for the last few years, and that the beds are normally removed at the end of winter. “With a daily intake to around 70 patients per day, at Mater Dei, the impact of this measure will be minimal,” MAM said.

In its original statement, VGH said that it is currently working to recruit additional nurses and carers to be able to meet growing demands.

Karin Grech is one of the three hospitals that was privatised by Vitals Global Healthcare.