Doctors have warned of “effective industrial action” should resolution fail about a number of outstanding issues at health centres which have created “uncertainty and disruption”.

In a letter to the CEO of the Primary Health Care, the Medical Association of Malta said it was very concerned at the way Health Centres have been allowed to deteriorate.

“Failure to address outstanding issues, continued uncertainty and disruption of leave has led to low morale, an exodus of young specialists and unacceptably long waiting times for sick patients. The service has been stretched beyond its limit and can only continue to cope in its current form if downgraded or reformed.”

It said it was declaring an industrial dispute which would, should resolution fail, be followed by wide spread, effective industrial action.

MAM requested an urgent meeting to address these issues that remained outstanding. These were

1) An opaque and disorganised vacation leave system at the Mosta health centre resulting in doctors being denied their leave and losing it.

2) Fewer GPs assigned to front line services than the safe minimum, in spite of increasing workloads.

3) Intimidation and insecurity for part time, reduced hours and contract for service doctors.

4) Very long waiting times for patients as sick patients are told to wait in the same queue as patients who need paperwork.

5) Crowd control problems at the Floriana Health Centre, where unsupervised patients in the waiting area were disturbing consultations and getting into fights. The relocation of the waiting room seemed to be main reason for this problem.

6) Complex tasks being assigned to very junior doctors.

7) Inadequate facilities for doctors.

8) Lack of consultation and uncertainty at the Kirkop Health Centre and changes to prescribing practices.