News 28/07/2002

Medical Council to discuss doctors’ excessive fees

By a staff reporter

The Medical Council is to discuss the issue of excessive fees charged by a handful of Maltese doctors and private hospitals to British tourists on holiday in Malta after questions put to it by this newspaper.

MaltaToday was informed by the Council’s registrar that the "item has been put on the agenda for the Council’s next meeting." No date has yet been set for the meeting.

After persistent reports from the UK about unethical behaviour by a select number of Maltese doctors, who insist on hospitalising British tourists requiring emergency medical attention, in private hospitals, MaltaToday sent a series of questions to the Medical Council on the matter.

This newspaper asked whether the Council had ever received any official complaints from foreign insurance companies or tourists. MaltaToday also asked the Medical Council whether Prof. Louis Buhagiar was ever summoned to appear before it after the Small Claims Tribunal in January decreed that his fees were ‘excessive’ and after the revelations made by this newspaper last Sunday, which put him at the centre of an insurance probe by UK agencies.

The Medical Council is the official body that oversees the medical profession.

Related stories:

Alfred Sant keeps mum on Louis Buhagiar
UK insurance delegation in Malta meeting with health division