Libya’s NTC to pay costs for casualties in Maltese hospitals

Mahmoud Alstani, a visiting senior NTC official told MaltaToday that Libya will be paying its dues to Malta for the costs it has so far absorbed in medical care to a number of Libyans who have been admitted into Mater Dei and St James Hospitals.

“We are grateful to the government and people of Malta for their support and hospitality, but we have our pride too, and this is why we will pay for all that has been given to our people by our neighbouring friends,” the official said.

According to the official, the payment will be made through funds which are so far frozen in Malta under sanctions by the United Nations Security Council and the European Union.

“Once these funds are released, we will subtract the amount spent on medical care both at Mater Dei and at St James Hospital,” he said.

MaltaToday is informed that Mater Dei Hospital is providing Intensive Therapy Unit care to wounded Libyans, and once discharged, they are transferred to St James Hospital for further treatment.

The agreement in place provides for immediate care in hospitals for the injured and after they are discharged, they are followed up by the embassy.

MaltaToday is informed that all those who have been discharged from Maltese hospitals are then checked into a hotel, and their costs are paid for by the Libyan embassy.

While it has also been noted that throughout the past months the Libyan embassy has paid medical bills for a number of casualties, the Qatari government is reportedly also partially financing the needs of the injured families.

Led by General Naser Alkaabi, the Qatari Armed Forces are not only buying stocks of water, food and medicine from Malta to be sent to Libya, but are also providing a C-17 aircraft as an air ambulance to evacuate the injured and bring them to Malta.

The Qatari government is reportedly currently financing family members who are accompanying the injured to Malta, and together with the Libyan embassy, providing pocket money for them to spend while in Malta.

Meanwhile, Misurata’s most acclaimed war hero, Commander Ibrahim Halbous, who sustained grievous injuries while fighting on the Sirte frontlines, is to be transferred in the coming days from the ITU in Mater Dei Hospital to a specialised hospital in Britain.

Halbous was paralysed by a Gaddafi loyalist bullet that went through his neck, destroying his trachea – instantly muting him – and exited by damaging his spinal chord.

Over the past days, doctors and officials have discussed finalising details of transferring Halbous from Maltato Britain, and the British government is expected to issue Halbous with a visa and accommodate his close relatives.

When news of Col. Gaddafi’s capture was broken, a number of young Misuratis were also recovering from their injuries in Malta held a prayer vigil for commander Halbous at Mater Dei Hospital.