Developer Anton Camilleri, owner of the A. Camilleri Group of Companies, confirmed his interest in acquiring and restoring the defunct St Philip’s Hospital.

Mr Camilleri tells WhosWho.mt that he had expressed his interest in the hospital a while ago, and that while he has a few ideas for the future of the former hospital, it is too early to disclose them.

“Restoring it back into a hospital is an option, there are other possible investments in the healthcare sector,” he said.

He added that while the building’s interior may be dilapidated, its exterior remains in a very good state.

Mr Camilleri had filed a court application during ongoing court proceedings related to St Philip’s to stress that an auction for the building should still go ahead.

This came as fellow developer Carlo Stivala struck a deal to purchase the debts that the hospital’s current owner Frank Portelli had with HSBC Malta.

After the court registrar confirmed that around 11 people and companies have expressed interest in acquiring the Santa Venera building, Judge Ian Spiteri Bailey confirmed that the auction will go ahead, overseen by the Office of the Official Receiver.

All eligible bidders will have to promise to clear all the debts that Mr Stivala recently purchased from HSBC, currently owed by Dr Portelli.

St Philip’s used to be a specialised healthcare centre that catered to medical tourists, particularly from the United Kingdom.

However, it closed in 2012 due to financial reasons, and it has remained abandoned ever since.