Engagement of former advisor to Dalli ‘right decision’ – Health Minister

Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia has defended the appointment of Mark Sammut as IT consultant to the health ministry, insisting that it had "nothing to do" with the engagement of former European Health Commissioner John Dalli as consultant to the government.

Sammut is a former IT adviser to John Dalli, who worked for him in Brussels. He was engaged by Farrugia as eHealth advisor to devise the new clinical patient administration system for Mater Dei Hospital.

News of Sammut's engagement surfaced in the media shortly after Dalli, a former PN health minister, was appointed by the government to serve as consultant on health matters.

Questioned by journalists during the launch of the CPAS today, Farrugia said he engaged Sammut "during the first days of me becoming a minister".

Explaining that he knew Sammut and his family from Haz-Zebbug - Farrugia's electoral district where he served as family doctor for several years - the minister said John Dalli's appointment came later.

"I see the people's abilities and their motivation. The decisions I took in engaging these consultants are now bearing fruit, including cost-savings for the country. His [Sammut's] relationship with John Dalli had nothing to do with it," Farrugia said.

"I engaged a person who's good at what he does and we really should be lauding him for what he did. Looking back, this was the right decision to take."

According to a parliamentary question tabled in December, Sammut had been paid a total of €17,807 since 16 June 2013. 

The question on Sammut's salary was raised by Nationalist MP Chris Said.

According to the information, Sammut was appointed as consultant by the Ministry for Health with a basic salary of €2,359. His contract also allows for an expense allowance, an expertise allowance, mobile phone and car allowances and bonus. The expertise allowance amounts to €769, although in June this allowance amounted to €1,359.