Godfrey Farrugia was “uncomfortable” working with a number of people at the social solidarity ministry who were appointed ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle.

The former health minister cited this as one of the reasons for rejecting the Prime Minister’s offer to take over the social solidarity portfolio instead of health.

Interviewed on RTK, the Church radio station, Dr Farrugia was speaking for the first time since his resignation as health minister last month.

“In the preceding days there were some people appointed in the social solidarity ministry who I was not comfortable working with,” Dr Farrugia said without elaborating.

He said the uncertainty over the President’s new social role was also a factor why he turned down the Prime Minister’s offer.

But Dr Farrugia reiterated that his efforts were always directed towards improving the health service from the bottom up. “Cosmetic change is not for me... I wanted to lay down proper foundations.”

Dr Farrugia’s resigned as health minister on March 29, a move that forced the Prime Minister to move forward a planned Cabinet reshuffle by a couple of days.

He said that speculation over his removal from the health ministry had caused much uncertainty. Dr Farrugia said he only received official confirmation from “a high ranking” government official that he was not going to remain health minister the day before he resigned.

“I could not sleep that night and I woke up at 4.30am,” he said, adding that he went to the health ministry and prepared a proper handover.

Dr Farrugia said the good work done in the health ministry was buried in a sea of negative media publicity, though he admitted shortcomings in the ministry’s handling of public relations.

But he also expressed regret at the lack of communication with the Prime Minister’s office. “Communication between the ministry and OPM was terrible. We could have had greater harmony.”

ksansone@timesofmalta.com