A group of 200 nurses are to be employed in the public sector in the coming days.

The Health Ministry said this in a statement which it issued this afternoon to reply to allegations made this morning by Opposition spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

Notary Coleiro Preca said the government had to clarify what was happening with students who completed health related courses at the university, including B.Sc. Nursing and Radiography.

These students, she said, were asked for an interview last month, before the final results of the courses they had been following for four years were issued. Then, they were classified according to merit as established by the university.

But now that the final results have been published, it has been found that students who classified among the top, some even obtaining first class honours and second upper, were placed after some who did not even pass their finals and have to take resits.

Notary Coleiro Preca said it seemed that these students were assessed and classified by the university following an interview which only lasted a few minutes. Why was this system, which could affect the seniority of those assessed and their posting, followed this year?

This situation was creating uncertainty and did not inspire meritocracy and justice but smelled of clientalism and injustice.

The government, she said, should clarify matters as soon as possible.

HEALTH MINISTRY'S REPLY

The ministry said in its reply that for a professional to work in the public sector, he had to be registered with the respective council, which registration could only be done once the necessary qualifications were acquired.

The interviews procedure was only held before final results were published to hasten the process for the benefit of those seeking to be employed. This was a well studied process evaluating the person on different levels, including the experience acquired over the years as student and personal qualities.

The ministry said the Opposition failed to mention that more than 200 new nurses are to be employed in the public sector in the coming days. It also failed to mention the specialisation possibilities for professionals.

UNIVERSITY'S CLARIFICATION

The university said later that the interviews mentioned in the PL statement were not held by the university.

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