PN candidate for Gozo, Luke Said, in a statement on Wednesday said that, with the recent news that Malta Public Transport plans to add additional trips, many Gozitan workers at Mater Dei were hopeful that this would finally include a proper connection between their workplace and the fast ferry terminal, available on all days of the week.

He added that Gozitan healthcare workers commuting daily to Mater Dei Hospital via the fast ferry continue to face serious transport challenges, despite recent updates to Malta’s summer bus services.

“As has been the situation for years, Route 300 continues to operate only two trips in each direction on weekends and public holidays. Yet medical staff are required to work on all days, at all hours. Late-shift workers also face significant challenges, as the last bus from Mater Dei leaves at 19:15, while many shifts end later than that,” he said.

Said highlighted that “despite these challenges, these workers have chosen to remain in Gozo and raise their families here, committing to long commutes and the added strain of cross-channel travel.”

“The least the State can do is provide them with a reliable and efficient transport link between their workplace and home,” he said.

Route 300 is intended to connect the fast ferry terminal in Valletta to the national hospital, noted Said, however:

* On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, all of which are standard working days in healthcare, Route 300 barely runs, leaving essential workers stranded.

* With schools closing for the summer break, the route no longer requires as many stops.

* The last trip from Mater Dei is at 19:15, far too early for some staff who end their shifts at 20:00, many of whom depend on the 20:45 ferry to return home to Gozo .

* With no public transport option, these workers are often forced to spend €10 or more on taxis, adding financial stress to already demanding jobs.

“These are not isolated cases,” stated Said. “They reflect a systemic oversight affecting a group of professionals who have chosen to continue living in Gozo while contributing daily to Malta’s health system, a choice rooted in both commitment to their community and professional dedication.”

Said went on to say that “the current Route 300 schedule fails to reflect the realities of shift work in essential services and unfairly penalises Gozitans who are doing their part to keep the country running.”

He called on Malta Public Transport to urgently:

1. Reinstate regular weekend and public holiday services on Route 300.

2. Add a 20:15 service from MDH to Valletta in time for the 20:45 fast ferry.

Luke Said concluded by saying that “at the very least, public transport should ensure reliable access to and from the hospital for all workers, especially those sacrificing time with their families to serve the national interest.”

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