Doctors’ union gives notice of industrial action

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has declared an industrial dispute with the ministries for health and of family and social solidarity affecting all sectors of the medical profession, following a meeting yesterday.

According to a MAM statement, the industrial action will be effective as of 14 March if pending issues are not resolved.

One of the issues, according to the statement, was the failure to reopen discussions on the MAM-government collective agreement which expired in December last year.

“This has serious implications on the optimum delivery of patient care in view of the increasing demands on the health service,” MAM said.

It also reiterated its warning that it would not sign any agreement with the government on the privatisation of healthcare before the office of the auditor general finalised its investigation and the full contract was published. “The government is proceeding with privatisation regardless of this decision,” it added.

Furthermore, MAM lamented that the recruitment of specialists in Gozo was not being done in adherence to the current collective agreement.

“The qualifications required for specialist grades, the thorough screening and recruitment process by independent expert boards appointed and scrutinised by Public Service Commission, according to public service procedure, are not being adhered to,” MAM said, adding that the absence of the established process might compromise patient safety and quality of care.