Doctors list 'grave' problems in health sector

Doctors last night authorized the Medical Association to take whatever action it deems necessary to safeguard their interests after approving a resolution with a long list of 'grave' problems in the health sector.

The situation was discussed at an extraordinary general meeting, held in the wake of industrial action on manning of health centres. The action was stopped following agreement with the government.

The doctors said that as there continued to be a lack of medical manpower and an ever increasing demand for medical services; doctors at accident and emergency and the health centres continued to face large numbers of patients, while many doctors at the hospitals compelled to work very long hours.

Doctors were working under very difficult and dangerous conditions because there were not enough beds at Mater Dei. The Day Care unit could not be utilised for day care surgery and even the Casualty department often functioned as a ward with patients sleeping overnight.

Part of the problem was the accumulation of around 100 so called social cases in the hospital, the doctors said.

They acknowledged the health authorities' efforts, in particular those of Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar, to introduce the foundation programme for newly graduated doctors.

Notwithstanding these efforts, however, the doctors said they were disappointed that a number of clauses in the November 2007 MAM-Government agreement had not yet been implemented. In particular, no designate consultant posts had been issued to date, all posts in the stream of public health had been blocked, doctors at the sedqa agency had not had their collective agreement updated and the lack of career progression was sending a very negative message to young doctors with the result that the medical manpower shortage may get worse.

The MAM called on the government to improve access to medical investigations in the public health service to private family doctors in an effort to ease the pressure from the public system .