The main unions whose members will be affected by the partial privatisation of three hospitals are insisting on being given written guarantees of the promises made to them so far.

The government and the private investors involved in the move have assured doctors’ and paramedics’ unions during discussions that their current conditions will be retained in their entirety. But nothing has yet been put in writing.

“At the moment we are discussing with our members what guarantees we will be insisting upon,” said Colin Galea from the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses.

“We are drafting our conditions to be given to the government and the investors. We want a signed written agreement from both,” he said.

The same position is being adopted by the doctors’ union, the Medical Association of Malta.

We are drafting our conditions to be given to the government and the investors. We want a signed, written agreement from both

General secretary Martin Balzan said talks with the government had not yet been concluded and so far only there was only an agreement on broad terms.

“However, we have nothing in writing yet and we will be insisting that the government sign an agreement with us,” he said.

MAM, he added, was also awaiting legal advice before making a decision on whether it will demand a separate written agreement from the private investors.

The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin is taking a slightly different approach. It is not insisting on concluding a written deal with the investors but will only demand a full and detailed agreement with the government over the future conditions of its members, health and elderly section secretary Gian Paul Gauci said.

“Our relationship is with the government and not the investors, and we want it to remain that way,” he said. “We want the government to be fully responsible for what happens even in the eventuality that the project fails.”

So far, the only shareholder of the Vitalis Group who has met the unions was Ram Tumuluri, a Pakistani-born Canadian citizen.

The Times of Malta is informed that the negotiations are being led directly by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.

Vitalis Global Healthcare Ltd was registered as a company in Malta last May and is fully owned by Bluestone Investments Malta Ltd, which is owned in turn by Bluestone Special Situation Limited registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Apart from Mt Tumuluri, the companies all name Mark Edward Pawley, a British former banker and financial controller based in Singapore, as the other shareholder.

According to preliminary information on the hospitals’ private public partnership, the investors will run the facilities and the government will buy their services for use in the public healthcare system.

The three hospitals will also have hundreds of beds dedicated exclusively to medical tourism.