New course in intensive care

The Medical Association of Malta has congratulated the Department of Anaesthesia at St Luke's Hospital and the Association of Anaesthesiologists of Malta for the establishment of a local postgraduate training programme in anaesthesia and intensive care.

MAM said the programme was good news for doctors who would not have to spend years away from the country to do their training and for patients who would find more Maltese doctors manning the emergency services.

The association also appealed to the government to present parliament with the new health care professions bill as soon as possible after resolution of the few outstanding points.

"It is only when this legal framework is in place that official recognition of such high quality programmes throughout the European Union can be achieved.

"This will not only be prestigious for the country and the profession but it will also help to limit the brain drain of Maltese doctors that would otherwise occur.

"This success story also vindicates MAM's position of giving a central role to the specialist societies in the training of specialists," the association said.