€1.5 billion revamp planned for St Luke’s, Karin Grech and Gozo hospitals
Ian Borg, Jo Etienne Abela say the project is realistic and deliverable
A €1.5 billion revamp of St Luke’s, Karin Grech and Gozo hospitals is being planned over 15 years, the government announced on Monday.
Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela told a press conference that the masterplan for the three hospitals is costed and realistic.
St Luke’s is set to be transformed into a 503-bed hospital, with plans to further ramp up bed capacity by 2060.
Karin Grech will cater for day surgeries and short hospitalisation periods of up to three days.
The minister said 200 “contingency beds” will also be put in place at the hospital as a backup for Mater Dei.
The Gozo hospital will be rebuilt with a bed capacity of 331 beds, which will be increased to over 400 by 2060.
Abela said the masterplan for these hospitals had been drawn up by Italconsult S.p.A, experts who have worked on 150 hospitals projects.
The health minister said €300 million has been earmarked for the project during the next legislature.
Geological studies have been carried out at the Gozo hospital and assessments of the concrete at St Luke’s and Karin Grech.
Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg said the government is not only focusing on the health infrastructure, but also on improving services.
He said the masterplan is realistic, and one “learns from the circumstances of the past.”
“We are showing a costed plan. We will realise it step by step,” Borg said.
Given Labour's campaign cry about its credibility to implement its promises, Times of Malta asked Borg how the government could be considered credible on this project, given the Vitals/Steward debacle.
Borg said the government has a credible track record when it comes to infrastructure projects.
“We have to look forward. We have a detailed masterplan. A masterplan that is not only costed, with a realistic disbursement. There needs to be the will to implement it. I am here to help the Health Ministry and all those who will work to implement it,” Borg said.
On his part, Abela said the government has the humility to learn from past shortcomings and move forward.
A concession given to Vitals/Steward Health Care for a €200 million revamp of the same three hospitals was annulled on fraud grounds in 2023.
Ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and other government officials were charged in connection with the deal the following year.
All concerned deny wrongdoing.