Hospital CEO denies Gozo helicopter could not evacuate cardiac patient

Reports that a malfunctioning privately-operated helicopter contributed to the death of a patient again raise questions about the privatization of Malta’s hospitals. “Gozo hospital authorities are denying claims by a Nationalist MP that a man died due to delays caused by a fault with the Steward Health Care medical evacuation helicopter in Gozo. (…) Steward Health Care, which runs Gozo General Hospital, was caught in the midst of accusations by the Nationalist Party against the government ever since it was announced that Gozo General Hospital, Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital, and St Luke's Hospital were leased to Vitals Global Healthcare in a highly controversial agreement. The claims include staff shortages, with the PN's organ alleging that the hospital has poor care and management conditions. The government has repudiated the majority of these accusations.”