Ariadne Massa
Archaic clause forces surgeon to retire
Civil service head tells inquiring journalist: 'I don't speak to strangers'
An orthopaedic surgeon has been forced to retire because of an archaic clause in civil service regulations even though his contribution remains crucial to reducing waiting lists at Mater Dei Hospital.
Carmel Sciberras has been unable to work or perform any operations for two months because government employees who turn 61 are forced to retire to make way for the younger generation.
He has worked for the state hospital for 25 years.
Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar and Social Policy Minister John Dalli have met with Mr Sciberras because they would like him to stay on and help reduce the backlog.
According to a recent parliamentary question, the number of patients on the waiting lists for various surgical interventions stood at 626 for total hip replacement and 3,850 for knee procedures.
Operations are not being put on hold because of Mr Sciberras's absence. However, his input is necessary to alleviate the burden on the other surgeons and the system.
A spokesman for the Health Parliamentary Secretariat said Mr Sciberras was important to the sector, and the civil service was looking at ways of reinstating him.
When contacted, Godwin Grima, principal permanent secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, initially refused to comment, saying he "did not speak to strangers over the phone".
However, he later replied to an e-mail and said that in rare cases where an individual carried out particular tasks "and/or there is no replacement, by way of exception" the government may retain the individual.
Dr Grima said people who retired could be re-engaged - but not necessarily with the same job title or under the same terms and conditions. He stopped short of entering into the merits of Mr Sciberras's case, and would not say if or when the orthopaedic surgeon would be reinstated.
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28 Comments
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laurence schembri
Nov 4th 2008, 17:30
Sheer madness. When are we going to start acting like grown-ups.
Joseph Galea
Nov 4th 2008, 17:24
The ousting of Mr. Sciberras wil definately ease the under-staffed situation at the hospital as well as to curb the looooooooooooooong waiting lists.
Our admisistration is 'F1' fast to change fuel prices but snail slow to cut down on the red tape.
What would be the sum allocated for red tape in a budget? Maybe if this is reviewed we can afford another light bulb per household.
On behalf of all those who needed, need and will need your expertise a big thank you Mr. Sciberrras, we are behind you all the way.
Roberta Vella
Nov 4th 2008, 17:18
It is very strange that the Civil service head 'does not talk to strangers' is this guy paranoid or weird or what - what is he doing heading the civil service with that attitude??
M. Depasquale
Nov 3rd 2008, 15:13
I know Mr. Sciberras both as a lecturer as well as an orthopaedic surgeon. He has given an excellent service to a lot of students as well as patients and to our health system. It will be a huge loss for us if he is not reinstated.
Thank you Mr. Sciberras. I hope you will be reinstated soon.
Philip Sultana
Nov 3rd 2008, 10:14
Incredible! Malta still institutionalises age discrimination when other European countries are acting against age discrimination. Perhaps Malta would have fitted better in the Arab league than the EU!
Tanja Cilia
Nov 3rd 2008, 09:16
Wasn't there something about an ageist clause being removed from a job application, in a news item, the other day? Apart from that, t would be intersting to find out whether Maltese surgeons working abroad are in anyway precluded from offering their services in Malta, when on holiday here.
Vince Borg
Nov 3rd 2008, 09:04
The merits of Mr Carmel Sciberras are known to all, including Mr Dalli, the Mater Dei administration and the Head of the Civil Service. Patients that were entrusted to his care these last 25 years, testify to his skills, dedication and expertise. The service he gave went far beyond the call of duty.
What am I to conclude? That this is a miserable country which refuses to acknowledge an exceptional contribution by one of its leading citizens?
The funny thing is that looking at other divisions in the Public Sector, one comes across a host of nincompoops filling in posts of "consultants" past their retirement age. They are called "experts" and give the impression that they have a something valid to contribute!
2000 years ago, a Greek philosopher said: "They whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad."
l Galea
Nov 3rd 2008, 08:12
e.bartolo
"Honestly, some people occupying high ranks in the civil sevice, reason like four year olds!!!"
Bongu (Good Morning)
maria whitehead
Nov 3rd 2008, 04:35
Let me make one thing clear ... I'm sorry to see Mr. Sciberras in this situation. BUT why do you think so many doctors and surgeons have sought to work abroad? doctors have to wait in a very long line of bureaucratic red tape for an opportunity to progress in their field. Many have waited too long and never get this opportunity. Shame to see a good old hand go... but we do have surgeons that have waited to show what they have learnt in the shadows of these well known men. Isn't it time we let them take credit for what they have been doing whilst "assisting" all this time?
p.grima
Nov 3rd 2008, 00:18
First of all, Mr Sciberras should be free to choose if he should keep working or retire.
Bureaucracy, and Political Correctness is killing us. The law is made for us; not the opposite.
e.bartolo
Nov 2nd 2008, 22:19
This is almost an absurd situation! Is it so difficult to understand that a surgeon, especially a highly experienced one, deserves a different treatment for the benefit of all the citizens? What is more important, the citizen or the civil service rules? Honestly, some people occpupying high ranks in the civil sevice, reason like four year olds!!!
l Galea
Nov 2nd 2008, 21:48
K Mangion
The first paragraph answers your question.
Quote:
"An orthopaedic surgeon has been forced to retire because of an archaic clause in civil service regulations even though his contribution remains crucial to reducing waiting lists at Mater Dei Hospital."
John Falzon
Nov 2nd 2008, 21:39
Its funny really. The employers don't really want the older worker, but at the same time the government has increased the retirement age (for those in my age group) to 64. Seems to me there is a contradiction in terms somewhere in there.
Personally, I am 48 and work in IT and I wonder how long my bosses will want me around once I have reached the age of say 55 or so. I wonder if my expereince and maturity and dedication to values and having a strong work ethic will see me through those difficult times and keep me employed.
So what will happen if it doesn't ? I guess I might find another job. Well, yes, but it is unlikely to be at the same salary, so that will mean that my pension will also be dented because it is the best 3 years in the last 10 that count, and we are after all talking about an age 64 retirement, which means the best 3 years between 54 and 64..
Guess life is fast becoming a WIN-LOSE situation where the older worker is the loser.
What a truly sad age to age in !
K Mangion
Nov 2nd 2008, 20:18
Did anyone ask Mr Sciberras whether he wants to keep working or enjoy his retirement?
E. Azzopardi
Nov 2nd 2008, 19:30
Well, that is planning and foresight for you!!
C Buttigieg
Nov 2nd 2008, 17:53
As in everything else, there is a loop in this system too. I work for a large company abroad and when a person reaches pension age he is simply terminated from the company and taken on as a consultant. Depending on his skills and past performance, this results, most of the time, with a better employment package for the said person. Of course this all depends if Mater Dei really want to keep him or if they are thanking the heavens that he has reached his age so that they can get rid of him, which is also sometimes the case. No part of these comments are meant for Mr Sciberras as I am sure that he will be a big loss if they decide to let him go. I am just stating the way things work.
J.C. Azzopardi
Nov 2nd 2008, 17:33
Everyone knew Mr Sciberras was about to retire officially on being of age. So who on earth is responsible to solve such like issues prior to boiling point? Why is it that in the end it is the patient - all Maltese citizens after all - who has to carry the burden.
Mr Dalli and Dr Cassar ought to sort out this new problem NOW.
M Micallef
Nov 2nd 2008, 16:59
I am sure this must form part of the DOH's vision to tackle the huge waiting lists and prepare for the future with the ever increasing elderly population of the islands, who are more likely to have problems.
Instead of being grateful to this surgeon who has every right to retire and enjoy life, stumbling blocks are being set up. This probably complements the lack of training, lack of promotions and the lack of incentives to attract back doctors who have trained abroad.
I am told that it would take much longer to train a competent surgeon than build a new hospital, hence the foolishness of not looking after these precious human resources appropriately.
salvino p zammit
Nov 2nd 2008, 15:49
It is really disgusting- this happened because Mr Sciberras was part of the Public service-am I write to say an employee of the private sector is now permitted not to resign from his job,keep working,pay all taxes,and when he feels like retiring he just give notice of his intentions,resign and commence recieving the NI pension benefit- he may than continue to work on Part-time basis.
Finally I feel that this situation is resolved at the very very earliest.
Mr sciberras -Wish you the best of Luck- thanks on behalf of my family and other whole maltese family
James
Nov 2nd 2008, 15:29
Mr. Sciberras is not just another civil servant!! Mr. Sciberras is a brilliant orthopaedic surgeon with a lot to offer. A shame if his talents are allowed to go to waste.
Ray Farrugia
Nov 2nd 2008, 15:21
Could Dr Grima explain how those born from 1952 onwards will be able to retire later than age 61? I thought that the pensionable age was slowly rising to 65. This is a nice suprise to me..!
malcolm seychell
Nov 2nd 2008, 15:12
Crazy policies.
Old people have to make way for young people.(basta slogan all equal!!)
Thanks to Minister Dalli for once again using common sense.
albert leone ganado
Nov 2nd 2008, 14:54
It is almost kafkaesque besides being a terrible loss of an above average human resource that our hospital loses a leading surgeon because he has passed the age of 61 when it has a huge backlog of appointments and surgical operations in his speciality.
The same seems to apply with other professions such as magistrates. Accountants it seems are being shown the grazing class by private accountancy firms even earlier.
When it comes to getting rid of the ir elders professions tend to be ruthless especially since their is often a lucrative monetary potential with senior professional posts.
In an age when we talk of every kind of discrimination including gender,religion and physical handicaps it seems that one of the most cruel discriminations which is against people who have given the best to society we seem to ignore it. Worse still it is often unions who aid and abet this position.
Darby Allen
Nov 2nd 2008, 14:45
So let's kick our old experts out to make way for the new experts - even if there are none! Crazy!
Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men; no prize for guessing who holds sway here!
l Galea
Nov 2nd 2008, 13:36
s.bugeja
"If there is a beaurocratic archaic regulation which is working against the country's needs then get rid of it now."
The first thing is to get rid of the present government which is working against the country's needs as evidenced by the opinions of the Unions, Employers Associations, Economists and other experts, including the experts of experts, the HOUSEWIVES.
l Galea
Nov 2nd 2008, 13:33
Where else if not in Malta?
Charles Micallef
Nov 2nd 2008, 13:06
Reading this article confirms that much needed resourceful labour from the third age of life are being put out to grass simple because of their age and not their capabilities.
Experience seems to count for nothing these days! Only in Malta!
s.bugeja
Nov 2nd 2008, 11:36
As if we can afford to lose such people! sometimes I wonder if the Roman proverb Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat (Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad) holds true for malta. If there is a beaurocratic archaic regulation which is working against the country's needs then get rid of it now.