The Labour Party has described as “destructive” Simon Busuttil’s attitude to the plan to bring a private operator to the health sector.

Rebutting criticism over the €200 million project for a private operator at St Luke’s, Karin Grech and the Gozo General Hospital, the PL accused Dr Busuttil of persisting in “negative politics”.

The plan includes a new Gozo hospital and refurbished St Luke’s and Karin Grech, which will offer beds for health tourism. The government will rent out a number of beds for use in the public health service.

But the Opposition has raised concerns over the part-privatisation of the service, especially in Gozo, since the public hospital is the only one on the island. The PL said the Nationalist administration had left a poor legacy in the health sector, characterised by a new hospital that was smaller than its predecessor, a lack of beds and interminable waiting times.

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