I refer to the letter ‘Not marketable’ (February 24) by George Debono who, I understand, belongs to the medical profession.

In an attempt to rubbish the argument I made in my letter about Steward Health Care taking over the running of St Luke’s, Karin Grech and Gozo hospital, he cast serious doubts on the service private hospitals and clinics, not just Steward, by highlighting the profit aspect.

What he quoted from Der Spiegel about hospitals run by a private company (here the said hospitals are not being privatised but given on a temporary concession), applies to all other healthcare services, including homes for the elderly, which the Nationalist government had handed over to a private company, Care Malta. The main objective of all private companies offering a service to clients is to make the highest possible profit.

Is he suggesting such private firms are not giving the best possible healthcare or service to patients/clients because, as he says, “profit margins override the needs of patients” or clients?

I do not recall him ever saying a word about the disastrous state his party, when in government, had left the three hospitals. That was not a private healthcare company but an irresponsible and highly-incompetent government that had Debono’s eager and unwavering support.

He should have listened to what the US Ambassador had to say about the good name Steward Health Care enjoys in the United States.

The vast majority of our people are not ready to accept lectures from people who openly supported a government known for the disgraceful state it left the said three hospitals in. It was also incapable of solving the grave problem of hundreds of medicine products being out of stock, ever-increasing waiting lists for operations and thousands of hospital patients remaining on stretchers in corridors for hours on end.

It took about 17 years to build Mater Dei Hospital.