A termination notice has been sent to the contractor responsible for the Regional Hub project in Paola, the Ministry for Health said in a statement on Friday morning.

The Ministry said that this decision was taken following an evaluation period during which the Ministry, along with the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS), "explored every possible way to avoid this outcome and above all avoid delays in completing the works".

It said that this is being done as "action in favour of prioritising the service and health of the patient". It continued that the contractor had repeatedly failed to meet critical deadlines and caused the project to continue experiencing delays "despite best efforts and repeated attempts". The Ministry said that the FMS issued several penalties according to the terms of the contract and the legal requirements, and added that the Ministry participated in a judicial process against the contractor which has now reached its final stage.

The Ministry said that it was determined that the termination of the contract was the only viable solution after exhausting all other options in order to ensure that the Regional Hub is completed and delivered to the public as soon as possible. It added that the Ministry's first priority remains the health of patients and that it is committed to delivering the crucial facility without further delay.

It commented that the contractor has always been paid what is due according to the contract, but that the Ministry also has an obligation to ensure that public funds are used in the best interest of the people.

The Ministry concluded by saying that the FMS is taking steps to continue the works and speed up completion. "We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the facility is operational at the earliest opportunity so that it can begin serving the community and improving our healthcare services."

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