The Health Ministry today signed an agreement with the General Workers’ Union guaranteeing that their members will remain employed with the government despite the privatisation of the Gozo, St Luke’s and Karin Grech Hospitals.

Health Minister Chris Fearne said the agreement reached with the union means that its members are guaranteed to be retained on the government payroll.

A similar guarantee was signed with the nurses’ union on August 10.

Vitals Global Healthcare, the company that was chosen as the preferred bidder in June last year for the public-private partnership will be injecting €220 million in a total revamp of the three hospitals.

The concession to the private operator is for 30 years and the capital injection would be made over the next two years.

Mr Fearne said the government is committed to ensuring that healthcare remains free for all Maltese citizens.

This model will be kept sustainable through new niches such as medical tourism, Mr Fearne said.