An agreement has been signed between the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing and the Medical Association of Malta (MAM), after various discussions, a government statement said.
On Friday, the government said that the Ministry’s efforts to ensure that patients seeking urgent medical assistance receive a safe but more efficient service has been strengthened through this agreement.
Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that this agreement addresses two crucial factors in the Ministry’s strategy for emergency services.
He said that the government’s vision is to guarantee high-quality careers in the medical field, which is reflected in the expansion of the group of specialist consultants carried out over the past year, without altering any sectoral agreements.
Abela said that this agreement also consolidates the Ministry’s vision that all resources in the country, both public and private, should be utilized to ensure that patients in need receive proper and timely care.
“The Ministry is convinced that this agreement is a step in the right direction to implement the solutions we are offering for the benefit of patients,” Abela said.
Martin Balzan, President of MAM Martin Balzan said that with goodwill and positive dialogue, the government and the union have managed to reach a good agreement for doctors working in emergency and health centres, as well as for patients, as it will help improve the service.
He concluded by thanking all those involved in the cordial discussions over the past few days.
In the past week, the union had ordered, and then postponed industrial directives, over the transfer of patients to private hospitals, saying it was not consulted as per collective agreement.
