Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1477650
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 AUGUST 2022 Nursing union balks at Steward profits: 'Tax money down the drain' COURT NOTICE By order of the Court of Appeal of 21 December 2021, in the acts of the Sworn Application number 70/2021, filed on 16th September, 2021, in the names Aquilina Maria Theresa vs Zerafa Joseph, the fol- lowing publication was ordered, pursuant to Article 187 (3) et sequi- tur of Cap, 12 to serve notice on the respondent. The applicant claims that the Court should, inter alia: In terms of Articles 23 and 24 of the Marriage Act, Cap. 255 of the Laws of Malta, it is stated that the mar- riage indicated above between the contenders is null and void for the purposes and all effects of the law and the above decision is en- forceable in Malta and consequently it authorises the registration of the declaration of nullity of the marriage above for the purpose and all the effects of the law and orders that the relative entry is made in the marriage deed registered in the public register concerning the above mentioned marriage. Registry of the Superior Courts, this Wednesday, 3rd August 2022. Service Respondent: Joseph Zerafa, Sweet Breeze, Triq Adeodato Gatt, Haz-Zebbug. Registry of the Superior Courts, today 31st May, 2022. CARMEL ABELA, M.SC. IN MANAGMENT, DPA, DIP. LAWS OF PROCED. (MELIT) For the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals Letter of Intention VG Recruitment Services Ltd., a Maltese company bearing company registration number C 102794, declares its intention to register for an Employment Agency licence in accordance to article 23 of the Employment and Training Services Act, 1990 (Act XXVIII of 1990). The activities proposed to be carried out are the following: 1. Recruitment Consultancy 2. Interviewing, selection and placements of candidates in employment 3. Recruitment of persons from abroad to employment in Malta or in an EU member state 4. Recruitment of persons in Malta for employment in Malta or in an EU member state 5. Advertising of the filling of vacancies 6. Keeping a register of applicants for employment Official Registered Office Address: '6, Villa Gauci, Mdina Road, Balzan BZN 9031, Malta' Company Registration Number: C 102794 MATTHEW VELLA NURSING union MUMN said it was shocked at learn- ing that the American private healthcare group Steward had booked a €22 million profit on its concession to operate three state hospitals. MUMN boss Paul Pace said the cash could have easily been used to refurbish the mental health institution Mount Car- mel Hospital or for new Mater Dei Hospital wards, referring to the annual outlays paid by the State to Steward. Steward Malta's pre-tax €6 million profit in 2020 comes despite claims it has issues with the government hospitals. The American company took over the running of three pub- lic hospitals in 2018 from Vitals Global Healthcare, and claims the "unbankable" government contract must be completely renegotiated. But in 2021, an additional €40 million was allocated to Stew- ard, over and above €50 million first allocated to the company in last year's 2021 Budget. Pace compained that Mater Dei is now hosting patients in the medical library, the staff canteen and the corridors of MDH. "Wards which not fit to host any patients but are still being used, since there is no more wards available in MDH to the deterring of both staff and pa- tients," he said. Pace added that capital in- vestment projects such as a new outpatients block and parking space at Mater Dei, as well as new hospitals for men- tal health and mother and child healthcare, as well as a prima- ry healthcare hub in the north, had not started. "These 'promised' projects have been left on the shel f due to financial problems in the healthcare sector. The Maltese pay a high price for this agree- ment with Steward, since this taxpayers' money could easily have been used for much need- ed investments in the medi- cal sector. Instead, the money is being 'used' for making an American company richer than it is already is. This is certainly not right," Pace said. "The government should ad- dress this urgently and not hide behind any court case. Millions of taxpayers' money are going down the drain every year and no government offi- cial is being held accountable. Accountability is only expect- ed from the common people, but it is non-existent from politicians. This is daylight robbery and nobody in govern- ment is trying to stop it." Finance Minister Clyde Caru- ana last year accused Steward of failing to make the necessary investment to revamp the hos- pital facilities and services. The spokesperson, however, insisted that throughout 2020, Steward made investments in "people, facilities, equipment and supplies, including in-pa- tient capacity and acquiring additional equipment. In an uncompromising ex- coriation of the contract, the National Audit Office said the failures of Labour's privatisa- tion of the state hospitals was down to the selection of VGH as the concessionaire, "a poor choice that set the stage for what was to come." "The negotiations that quick- ly followed selection were similarly flawed, conditioned to an extent by the structural anomalies and organisation of the Ministry for Energy and Health and the general ill-pre- paredness in terms of what was sought by government through this concession." The defunct Vitals Glob- al Healthcare achieved none of its milestones when it took control of three state hospitals in a controversial, multi-mil- lion privatisation deal. MUMN calls out €6 million profit for Steward, says cash could have built new mental health hospital