MAM confident of "fair agreement"

The Medical Association of Malta said that in its calculations over the complement of doctors in health centres, the Health Division included doctors on unpaid leave, those in the administrative stream, and part timers.

In a statement, MAM said that in reality there were only around 50 full time doctors when in fact there should be 110.

"Perhaps a visit to the Birkirkara health centre would clearly show who is right and who is wrong. If the shortage is not that bad why is the administration being so difficult in the granting of vacation leave to doctors?" MAM asked.

Replying to a Health Division statement, the MAM said that the explanation that current talks about transport reimbursement were taking place did not excuse the government when it was not honouring what was agreed upon last January, namely that transport reimbursement would not be considered as a fringe benefit.

Whether other professionals in other ministries have their transport re-imbursement included in their collective agreement or not, did not in any way justify doctors being paid half that amount, especially when the distances covered were much longer.

It added that the Health division had already taken two very positive steps, by increasing doctors` remuneration last January, and by planning to introduce the new training scheme for recently graduated general practitioners in line with EU directives.

"This is clearly the way forward to attract more doctors to man the health service, and the association is confident that fair agreement can be reached with the authorities in the near future for the good of one and all," MAM added.