The Medical Association of Malta has denied any foul play in the selection processes for medical consultants after a surgeon's claims on Tuesday.
Godfrey Laferla, who chaired three of the boards in charge of choosing candidates, said he had warned the Public Service Commission in June 2011 that one applicant also sat on MAM's council , which vetted the vacancy notices before they were issued.
Prof. Laferla claimed MAM subsequently amended the calls in a way that appeared to favour local candidates.
Since concerns about potential irregularities had cast a shadow over the process, the boards told the PSC they were not prepared to sanction any outcomes and withdrew their signatures, Prof. Laferla said.
MAM president Martin Balzan reacted by insisting the calls had not been amended, and yesterday his association reiterated the allegations were unfounded.
It again expressed its full confidence in the conclusions about the selection processes contained in five inquiries by the PSC, which said the boards were disbanded after members disclaimed responsibility for having nominated ineligible candidates to the consultancy posts.
"In all five cases the PSC upheld MAM's representations and determined that the selected candidates were either not specialists under EU law, or had not practised two years as a specialist in an EU country," MAM said.
It said that as an EU country, Malta's law requires all practising specialists t o be registered with t he Medical Council of Malta, on the recommendation of t he Specialist Accreditation Committee that vets all applications from Maltese, EU and non-EU members.
"Eligibility criteria for employment consultants and designate consultants with the Health Ministry were agreed in 2007. There was indeed no change to these requirements as alleged.
"Furthermore, experience in any EU country has to be accepted, so the allegation that these criteria favour locally based candidates is also unfounded."
MAM explained that all calls are formulated by the HR department at the Ministry of Health, than vetted by HR in the Office of the Prime Minister, and then sent to be Public Service Commission.
At its own discretion , the Health Ministry sends applications to MAM to verify their legal conformity.
"The PSC inquiry has determined that the calls were accurate and clearly reflected EU and Maltese law, and agreements between MAM and the Health Ministry."