Updated 1330
Medical association slams ‘personal’ attacks by Health Ministry: The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has criticised Health Minister’s alleged “personal and unprofessional attacks” on its council members, asserting they are protecting members and patients from poorly planned management decisions. MAM noted the minister met the association only once in 2024 and failed to consult stakeholders regarding a new public-private partnership for treating uncomplicated emergencies. While MAM signed agreements requiring prior consent for such initiatives, it claims to have been left uninformed about the partnership’s details. It also expressed concerns over costly IVF procedures and hinted at referring the matter to the auditor general. MAM emphasised its commitment to patient safety, rejecting changes in procedures made without proper consultation or safeguards.
A record year for cruise liner passengers in 2024: Valletta Cruise Port closed 2024 with a record 940,000 passenger movements, surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 peak of 900,000. Chief Executive Stephen Xuereb highlighted the cruise industry’s full recovery and improved efficiency post-pandemic. Xuereb, also Head of Operations at Global Ports Holding, forecasted passenger movements in 2025 to reach 960,000, with over 400 cruise liners expected. He noted the industry’s growth aligns with the capacity of cruise liners and emphasised ongoing investments in infrastructure, pollution reduction, and enhancing passenger experiences. These efforts aim to attract more return visitors for extended stays, cementing Malta’s appeal in the global cruise market.
Morning Briefing
Public officers to be protected from prosecution in their personal capacity
The government will introduce measures to shield civil service and government entity workers from being sued personally, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Sunday. “In the coming days, we will provide legal protection to ensure they cannot be taken to court for serving the country,” Abela said during a rally marking his fifth anniversary as Labour Party leader and PM. “While others rely on intimidation, we are standing by you because we believe in you,” he added. Several permanent secretaries, including Ronald Mizzi and Alfred Camilleri, are facing legal proceedings over the Vitals Hospitals deal. It remains unclear if the legislative changes announced by Abela will apply retroactively to those already facing court proceedings. (Maltatoday)
PN insists on publication of Black 17 inquiry
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has called for the immediate publication of the 17 Black inquiry, insisting that the public has a right to know the truth. Speaking at a political dialogue in Naxxar, Grech criticised the Labour Party, accusing it of celebrating “three corrupt legislators” and marking “five years of a Prime Minister who admitted the party’s weakness.” In the year’s first political event, Grech alleged that new scandals continue to emerge weekly, highlighting claims of taxpayers’ money being wasted on consultancy fees for unqualified individuals. He also referred to recent allegations that former Minister Justyne Caruana was paid to remain silent. Grech reiterated that the Prime Minister should release the 17 Black inquiry to prove his commitment to transparency, describing it as a major scandal involving senior government officials. (TVM)
Steward gave Ram Tumuluri €10.5m golden handshake after accusing him of fraud
Leaked documents reveal that a former director of Vitals Global Healthcare received a €10.5 million payout in a 2019 settlement after Steward Health Care, which inherited a “fraudulent” concession for three public hospitals from Vitals, accused him of fraud. The Times of Malta reported that details of Ram Tumuluri’s dealings with Steward, which filed for bankruptcy last year, were uncovered in a cache of 300,000 leaked documents obtained by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Tumuluri’s associate and former VGH partner, Mark Pawley, also received €5 million. The February 2019 settlement saw both parties agree to drop serious allegations of wrongdoing tied to the hospitals concession. The deal, later annulled by the courts as “fraudulent,” has led to criminal proceedings against several individuals, including former prime minister Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and former minister Konrad Mizzi. (Times of Malta)
