Well, VGH knows what they signed up for and are ready to take any heat as they go along the futuristic path of innovation and improvement. When asked by the MMSA with regards to how the Vitals representatives and government had planned to ensure quality healthcare system for their patients and in turn provide assurance that profit will not be given preference over healthcare, VGH had quite an answer to give. They said that their first and foremost focus was that of providing high-standard care to all their patients. The representatives proclaimed that in order to attract foreign patients, there is a need to encumber quality medical care initiatives and to develop a good reputation for quality care.

The VGH representatives further revealed that they were in process of applying for JCI accreditation for all their hospitals within Malta. This would adequately ensure quality healthcare and maintained standards at all times. The Minister on the other side of the pyre explained that the Vital Global Healthcare unit was bound by a number of Key Performance Indicators which were carefully and closely monitored by the government on a regular basis. This in turn would ensure that the obligations and standards are distinctly adhered to. In any event that the Indicators are defaulted on, VGH will be held responsible and hence penalized in accordance with the signed contract. In special cases of outstanding contractual breach, the government will assume control and running of all three hospitals which were previously assigned to VGH.

Furthermore the MMSA were reassured that in due regard to Maltese and Gozitan patients, the beds and services reserved specially for them will remain free of charge. It was revealed that the VGH will charge international patients who would occupy beds in excess of the beds reserved for the government, which is in excess of the 250 beds installed at Gozo hospital, 270 at Karin Grech and 80 at the newly inaugurated St. Luke’s Hospital. They have all been reserved under the ownership of the government and shall be charged as such if any foreign national is in need of it; domestic population will remain catered with the fully functional Free-Healthcare-for-Malta promise held up by the government.

The MMSA clearly atoned for the aforementioned issues and declared that student members of the organization had chosen this line of profession because they want to be of service to their patients and to provide optimal medical healthcare to all of them. They reiterated that the patients deserved to have everything set clearly before them and a clear cut understanding for futuristic prospects are carefully communicated to them without any shadow of a doubt. In addition, the MMSA expressed its utmost desire for bringing together all its stakeholders on a joint session and discuss future plans accordingly. They want to ensure the Maltese population that whatever’s being done is for their benefit and their benefit only.

In this regard, the Minister added that the door is always open for technical discussions to take place. So whatever issues the MMSA has or will have in consideration, the government shall anoint retrospective means of approach to counter those issues and strive for success accordingly.