Former Minister Fearne Details Vitals Deal Clashes in Court

2026-04-14T14:00:52.934+00:00 · Updated 2026-04-14T17:00:58.668+00:00

Former Health Minister Chris Fearne recently gave testimony in court regarding the controversial concession of three state hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare and later Steward Healthcare. His appearance is part of an ongoing legal case surrounding the deal.

During his testimony, Mr Fearne spoke about disagreements he had with former Minister Konrad Mizzi concerning the hospital concession. He recalled a specific instance where the CEO of Steward Healthcare allegedly told him that negotiations were solely conducted with Minister Mizzi, not with him.

This statement suggests a clear division in the negotiation process and highlights Mr Fearne's limited involvement in certain aspects of the deal, according to his own account. The court case continues to uncover details about how the concession was managed and the roles of various officials.

Following Mr Fearne's testimony, media personality Peppi Azzopardi reacted publicly. Mr Azzopardi expressed his confusion and inability to understand why Mr Fearne is facing charges in connection with the case.

Mr Azzopardi argued that, based on the testimony provided by Mr Fearne, it appeared he had no direct role in any alleged wrongdoing related to the concession. His comments reflect a public debate on the accountability of officials involved in the deal.

The Vitals/Steward concession has been a significant point of contention in Maltese politics, leading to a public inquiry and criminal proceedings against several individuals. The court continues to hear evidence to determine the full extent of responsibility.

Former Health Minister Chris Fearne told the court that he was "systematically excluded" from crucial decisions related to the privatisation of three national hospitals. Testifying in court, Fearne explained that he would often arrive at negotiations only to discover that key terms had already been agreed upon.

He further stated that these agreements were made by former Minister Konrad Mizzi, effectively sidelining Fearne from the critical stages of the Vitals/Steward deals. This testimony sheds more light on the internal workings and decision-making processes during the controversial hospital concession.