An MAM delegation this morning walked out of a 'conciliation meeting' with the government after Social Policy Minister John Dalli presented figures showing there were sufficient figures for health centres to be manned at all hours.
Mr Dalli told a press briefing that the doctors' representatives had walked out of what he said was a conciliation meeting, without saying anything.
He hoped they would return to the negotiating table, and said that if the figures were challenged, he was prepared to carry out a scientific survey.
The MAM last Monday ordered doctors not to work in three health centres but to report for work in other health centres, in protest over a shortage of doctors.
But Mr Dalli said today that an exercise which his ministry had carried out found that the number of doctors was sufficient for the health centres to be manned at all hours. The exercise, he said, involved the number of doctors, the number of people calling at health centres, and doctors' home visits.
Mr Dalli said there could be better deployment of the doctors because some health centres needed a bigger complement in the morning, but a smaller one at night.
"I have enough doctors to fill all the health centres in all hours, I will not accept that the MAM reduce the service," Mr Dalli said, adding that his figures were taken from the doctors' register.
MAM REACTION
The Medical Association in a statement denied that it was involved in a conciliation meeting of any sort.
"We were called for a meeting where the minister presented his figures," MAM president Martin Balzan said.
The MAM insisted it would not re-negotiate the agreement he had just signed two days ago.
The association published the agreement which, while providing that the MAM would lift its directives, also provided that health centre doctors would operate all four health centres (Cospicua, Qormi, Gzira and Rabat) 8-5 p.m. till the end of this week.
They further agreed to enter into talks on future changes in work practices, including possible changes and farming out of GP services.
It was also agreed that from Monday, government health centre doctors would be expected within the current roster, to open 24 hours at Floriana, Paola and Mosta and man all other health centres from 8 am. to 1 pm. Two health centres (from among Cospicua, Qormi, Rabat and Gzira) would, between 1 p.m. and 5 pm., be manned by health centre doctors as directed by the management.
Health centre doctors would not provide medical cover or be requested to provide cover for vacation leave or sick leave at the other two health centres operating between 1-5 p.m. As regards to the manning of the other two health centres between 1-5 p.m. it would be the prerogative of management to implement those measures it felt were necessary.