The Mater Dei Dentistry Department chairman Alexander Azzopardi is being investigated by the police in connection with his department’s procurement of equipment, which is deemed excessive to the actual needs.
MaltaToday is informed that Dr Azzopardi was questioned by the police in the last weeks as questions about the procurement process raised investigators’ eyebrows.
A spokesperson for the health ministry confirmed that the dentistry department is under police investigation, citing the ongoing probe to justify its blanket ‘no comment’ on the €2.4 million contracts to equip the unit.
The department bought twice the amount of dental chairs than there are dentists employed there. While there are 23 dentists and six dental hygienists working at the department, there are 42 dental chairs costing up to €18,000 each.
Other equipment is also unutilised as it is related to cosmetic services that are not offered by the health service, while only one of three purchased digital X-ray machines are used. Sources said the department is also equipped with one of the most sophisticated X-ray printers at Mater Dei but this has never been used so far.
Meanwhile a similar situation is reported at the emergency department, where 45 cardiac stretchers were purchased but not more than 10 are being used. A total of 45 infusion pumps were also bought but the department uses only eight. The rest of cardiac stretchers and infusion pumps are locked up in a store.