Steward Health Care Malta is contesting the Civil Court findings relating to its approach to the hospitals’ concession.
SHCM said in a statement that it “believes that the judgement presents major concerns for the rule of law in Malta and has therefore also requested an ECJ Preliminary Ruling.”
Steward Health Care explained that it has filed an appeal against the Maltese Civil Court judgement on the hospitals’ concession agreement and requested a European Court of Justice (ECJ) Preliminary Ruling.
The company said it “emphatically rejects the narrative of the judge’s findings in relation to SHCM, an assessment that was made with no basis in evidence.”
“This narrative is erroneous and could have been disproven had SHCM simply been asked to supply evidence on these counts to court – a request that was never made,” it said.
“This failing – along with most others present in the judgement – presents major concerns for the rule of law in Malta and has serious implications for the future of foreign investment in the country,” the company said.
Steward has filed, together with the appeal, an ECJ Preliminary Ruling request from the High Court.
While SHCM said that it has “no position on, or knowledge of events, that took place while the concession was being awarded, the company has supplied significant documentary and other evidence to counter any claims made in its respect as part of its appeal.”
This evidence, it said, “which includes relevant interactions with the Government of Malta and documents outlining how SHCM transformed a bankrupt enterprise into a professionally managed operation with a sound financial footing, will help to inform the understanding of the Maltese people about the concession.”
SHCM noted that it kept the US Embassy and State Department – which was on several occasions present at negotiations on the concession terms – fully informed at all times of all relevant events and engagements with the Government of Malta.
SHCM concluded by saying that it “remains committed to operate at all times in accordance with its highest professional standards and values. Our priority was and remains always the provision of optimal healthcare to the communities and patients we are entrusted to serve.”
File photo: Gozo News/Anthony Zammit