Vitals found ‘novel ways to pocket taxpayer money’
The people behind Vitals Global Health Care (VGH) found “novel ways to pocket taxpayer money”, Nationalist MEP David Casa said in light of new revelations about the company’s complex ownership structures and dealings.
The Shift News revealed yesterday how VGH funded a €5 million takeover of a local medical firm called Technoline, which was then given exclusive rights to handle procurement for the three State-owned hospitals entrusted to VGH.
According to The Shift News, although the lucrative concession was sold by VGH to Steward Healthcare for €1 in 2017, “millions” changed hands behind closed doors.
These payments included a €1 million payoff to a Dubai company called Mount Everest General Trading LLC, whose involvement in the ownership structures was previously unknown.
The government has repeatedly refused to release documents related to the due diligence carried out on VGH and its owners.
It pays the concessionaires around €70 million annually to make use of bed space and medical services provided by the company at the three hospitals.
The government announced that VGH was selling the government concession to Steward Healthcare in December 2017.
Opposition leader Adrian...