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6 1991 Maltese Monte Tabor Foun- dation and the Foundation of Medical and Scientific Services (FMSS) are set up to develop a 480-bed specialised hospital. This was to be modelled on the renowned San Raffaele hospital in Milan. 1993 Monte Tabor Foundation contracted to provide FMSS with the designs for new hospital. Ital- ian company Ortesa Spa is en- trusted with design of the project. 1995 Swedish multinational Skanska is awarded the contract for the construction of the hospi- tal. Works commence in October. 1996 A new Labour government is elected and decides to expand the project to a general hospital to replace the aging St Luke's Hospi- tal. 1997 Works temporarily halted pending new designs for the big- ger hospital. The relationship be- tween government and San Raf- faele is terminated. 1998 Development permit for construction of new floor and a new wing is issued. London- based Norman and Dawbarn are engaged as designers for new ex- panded hospital. Following the re-election of the PN in Septem- ber 1998, the project is renamed Mater Dei and a memorandum of understanding is signed with Skanska for the design, execution and completion of the new hospi- tal. 2000 Permits are issued for the construction of additional wings Block D1.1 and Block D1.3 and underground service tunnels. A Design and Build Cost Plus agree- ment is signed with Skanska. 2005 The contract with Skanska is once again amended and the Cost Plus Agreement is replaced with a lump sum contract. 2007 The Handing Over Certifi- cates for the hospital are issued and Mater Dei opens its doors in June. 2009 The works are officially concluded with the signing of a Project Closure Agreement, in- cluding a waiver which exonerates Skanska from liability over "any further, past, present or future concerns, claims or disputes that the parties may have in respect of the Amended Main Agree- ment…" 2014 Government reveals that the concrete strength of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) and Block D buildings at Mater Dei Hospital are below specification. 2015 A report commissioned by the government on the quality of concrete concludes that repair works had been carried out to stop corrosion of steel reinforcement in the service tunnel under the emergency building. A separate inquiry led by retired judge Philip Sciberras concludes that respon- sibility and contractual liability ultimately lies with Skanska but the Project Closure Agreement hindered the government's right to seek remedy. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2015 News Mater Dei: An incredible tale of fraud PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION Download the MaltaToday App now