MPs urged to use good sense in hospitals’ contract debate agreement

Members of Parliament on the House’s public accounts committee should use their good sense to reach an agreement on a request made by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) and the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) for the committee to discuss the hospitals’ privatization contract, according to Speaker Anglu Farrugia.

In a ruling delivered in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Farrugia said the members of the PAC should agree on whether to discuss the government contract contract with Vitals Global Healthcare for the privatisation of St Luke’s, Karen Grech and the Gozo hospitals.

In a meeting on Monday, the PAC deferred to the Speaker for a ruling after members did not agree whether the committee should accept the two unions’ request or whether to refer it to the health committee.

Shadow health minister Claudette Buttigieg had already asked the health committee to discuss the contracts but withdrew her request following the unions’ letter to the PAC.