A Labour government would upgrade St Luke's Hospital to international standards and use it for medical tourism, MLP health spokesman Michael Farrugia said yesterday.

Speaking during a business breakfast, Dr Farrugia said St Luke's should not be discarded but upgraded to the standards set by those who will be demanding its services.

He told The Times that a Labour government "might" be making arrangements with foreign companies or governments not only to bring over patients but also doctors.

Dr Farrugia said the MLP was having talks with several entities, both locally and abroad, before it made any announcements or spoke to unions.

He stopped short of saying with which countries the discussions were being held.

Dr Farrugia referred to the lack of human resources in the health sector, saying that without human resources, the sector could not move ahead.

Asked how it was possible to have a second hospital taking into account the shortage of medical staff, Dr Farrugia said his party would be looking at whether it could enter into public-private partnerships with specialists.

While Mater Dei would continue being used as an acute hospital, when it comes to other services separate contracts would be offered to doctors and nurses, he said.

Contacted for his reaction, Health Minister Louis Deguara said it was easy to make proposals without offering solutions, especially when Dr Farrugia himself had mentioned the lack of human resources.

"I would like to know how he will have two hospitals working at once and, more importantly, where will he be getting the finances from," he said.

Dr Deguara pointed out that, years ago, during the discussions on the proposed San Raffaele Hospital (the forerunner of Mater Dei), the MLP had said it was not possible to have two hospitals functioning at the same time.