PN calls for clarity on Barts medical project

Shadow minister for health Claudette Buttigieg has called for more information and details on the government’s €200 million hospital investment with Barts Medical School.

“The Opposition is clear that it agrees with private investment in health as a matter of principle. Similar agreements were made in the previous administrations,” Buttigieg said.

But the Nationalist MP pointed out that the majority of unions in the health sector were not informed or consulted on the agreement.

“For this reason, the Opposition expects that the government provides all the details neceesary.”

Buttigieg said the PN wanted to know more about how the private sector will be involved in the operation of the Gozo General Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital.

Barts Medical School will be establishing their first overseas campus in Gozo while a €200 million investment by the private sector is expected to transform the Gozo General Hospital (GGH) and St Luke’s Hospital in Guardamangia into medical hubs.

The agreement with the Queen Mary University of London was signed this morning in a ceremony presided by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Professor Anthony Warrens, institute director at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The Barts campus in Gozo will be opening its doors in September 2016, welcoming some 300 students over five years.

A new private hospital in Gozo – for both Gozitans and medical tourists – would provide 250 new acute beds adding to the existing 200 geriatric beds bringing the total of beds in Gozo to 450. Of the new 250 acute beds, 125 will be for Gozitan patients while government will be reserving 175 for geriatric patients.

Karin Grech Hospital is set to become a fully-fledged geriatric hospital, offering 270 beds. St Luke’s Hospital will be converted into an 80-bed rehabilitation centre, offering the the latest test facilities and technology in rehabilitation services.

The dermatology department, with 35,000 visitors a year, will be relocated from Sir Paul Boffa Hospital to St Luke’s.