Health Minister Joe Cassar this morning claimed that he was put in the middle of an issue regarding the appointment of specialists when he had nothing to do with the case.
Testifying in a libel case he had filed against the Labour Party for continuous reports on One News regarding the selection processes for medical consultants, the minister said that he relied on a board for decisions and did not get involved.
The case revolves around a decision last year to nominate four medical consultants for vacant posts, despite the fact they did not satisfy eligibility requirements.
A judicial protest had been filed by three doctors who called for the selection process for a designate consultant surgeon, in which Education Minister’s son-in-law Robert Cuschieri had placed first, to be annulled and relaunched, claiming he was not eligible to apply for the call.
Dr Cassar told the court that the eligibility of appointees fell under the Public Service Commission and not his ministry.
He said that although Dr Cuschieri was not a registered specialist, he was a specialist and he always knew him as a resident specialist.
The minister said that it was up to the selection board, and not to him to establish whether or not Dr Cuschieri was a specialist.