Doctors' fees raised again in Parliament

Labour MP George Vella said yesterday that rather than criticising doctors for undercutting their fees, Nationalist MP Michael Asciak should have critised doctors and consultants who charged too much.

In a recent debate Dr Asciak criticised all governments since Independence for failing to establish minimum doctors' fees. He said that there were a number of general practitioners who charge a considerably small fee, undercutting their colleagues and endangering the medical profession.

Dr Vella, who was speaking in Parliament during the adjournament, said doctors had the right and faculty to ask what payment they wanted but rather than criticise those who had a heart, Dr Asciak should have criticised those whose charges shocked patients.