[attach id="328916" size="medium" align="left"]Mater Dei CEO Joseph Caruana.[/attach]

Mater Dei chief executive Joseph Caruana will leave his post at the end of the month, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

In January, Mr Caruana asked not to be reconsidered for the post when his term expires in May.

When contacted, he cited “personal reasons” for his decision. But he also hinted at the frustration caused by the way things are done in the public service.

“Things happen at a much slower pace than in private industry and this also had an impact on my decision,” Mr Caruana said.

He noted that the government consultants involved in the health sector reform process had asked him to stay on but he declined. Although his term ends in May, the CEO could have left in March as a result of accumulated leave.

However, he was asked to stay on for another month until a replacement was found.

“In January I had asked the Health Minister not to consider me for another term and I was asked to stay for an extra month.

“The replacement has not yet been found but I will finish on April 30,” he said.

Mr Caruana, an engineer, was appointed CEO three years ago as part of a management reorganisation of Mater Dei.

Last year, in the wake of a damning report penned by former health minister John Dalli that highlighted deficiencies at the hospital, Mr Caruana vented his frustration, insisting management had its hands tied by political diktat.