The government spent more than €6.8 million on equipment and services related to COVID-19 between July and December last year, with costs for swabbing and testing kits ballooning as infections increased.
The contract with the heftiest price tag – more than €2.2 million – saw the government purchasing an undisclosed number of rapid test kits at the end of the November. This contract was awarded to E.J. Busuttil Ltd.
The government also forked out nearly €1.2 million for the leasing of beds for patients to be kept in isolation at St Thomas Hospital.
Details of the contracts awarded by the government – both through direct order and the so-called negotiated procedure – were published in the Government Gazette this week. A negotiated procedure allows the government to consult the economic operators of its choice and negotiate the terms of a contract with one or more of them.
Year-long bid to hand dormant cancer machine to government
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Cancer procedures postponed as crucial machine lies dormant
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Steward talks with Konrad Mizzi, Joseph Muscat held behind Chris Fearne’s back, court hears
Health Minister Chris Fearne testifies in the case initiated by Adrian Delia to have the hospitals concession deal rescinded
1 March 2021, 3:15pm
by Kurt Sansone
Chris Fearne has testified about his frustration on learning that Steward Healthcare were holding talks behind his back with Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat.
The American company had been negotiating with the Health Ministry after taking over the hospitals concession from Vitals Global Healthcare but at the same time it was talking to Mizzi, who was tourism minister at the time.