The government has issued a call for proposals seeking interested private investors to operate St Luke’s, Karin Grech and the Gozo hospitals.

The call, issued yesterday by Projects Malta, will lead to the award of a service concession for the management and operation of healthcare and ancillary services at the three hospitals.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi announced last week that the private sector would be asked to develop and run these hospitals under a government investment proposal worth €200 million.

Through the proposed public-private partnership, the investor will be responsible for the capital expenditure and will be allowed to run a private hospital on the sites in question.

The government said it would be contracting hundreds of beds for the public system, ensuring healthcare remained free

The government said it would be contracting hundreds of beds for use by the public system, ensuring healthcare remained free.

Earlier this week, Dr Mizzi admitted to this newspaper that the €200 million input was not a “done deal”, adding that four international companies had already expressed interest in operating private hospitals. The proposed investment is separate from the agreement with Barts, a faculty within the Queen Mary University of London, to open a medical school in Gozo.

Copies of the request for proposals document can be obtained from the offices of Projects Malta Limited, located at The Clock Tower, Level 1, Tignè Point, Sliema, or via admin.projectsmalta@gov.mt against payment of a non-refundable fee of €5,000.

Sealed bids complete with all required documents must be submitted by noon on May 19.