Doctors rebut Health Ministry charges

The Medical Association of Malta denied it had made public the contents of a document on public health reform sent to it by the Health Ministry.

It said it only made general comments about the document without revealing contents.

The denial was the last in a series of exchanges between the association and the ministry after the MAM hit out at the proposed reforms in the health service, saying the reforms showed "an absolute lack of respect for the medical profession".

The Health Ministry strongly criticised the MAM accusing it of commenting publicly over a document on health reforms which at that stage was still confidential.

The MAM said it was the Health Minister himself who, at the time of the release, had made numerous comments on the content of the document on NET television. Some of his remarks were not considered as a compliment to the medical profession. However, the MAM said it had refrained from entering into the fray at that stage.

The association added that two weeks later, one of the Sunday newspapers leaked significant parts of the proposed documents, leading to widespread concern among MAM members.

At this state the association said it had no option but to consult its members. It said it had the right and an obligation to consult its members when it was asked to give its response to a document that concerned their working conditions. This was in line with democratic principles and it was surprising why the Health Ministry seemed to have taken exception to it.

The MAM said that its members were unanimous in their opinion that the document was very negative; it failed to show any appreciation of the sterling work done by the medical profession and that its proposals would result in a deterioration of the health service.

The MAM said it was also unanimously agreed that the document did not provide a good basis for further discussions and that the MAM's position should be made public.

The MAM concluded by hoping that "prudence and common sense" would lead the health authorities to come up with more realistic and positive proposals.