Doctors will not go on strike tomorrow after their union reported positive talks with the health authorities.

Martin Balzan, general secretary of the Medical Association of Malta, said the union suspended all industrial action planned for today and tomorrow, including directives that concerned a dispute with the university.

The decision was communicated in a joint statement by the Health Parliamentary Secretariat and MAM after talks between the two sides were held yesterday.

When contacted Dr Balzan said the health department had received their proposals positively. “Our issue with the department concerned the implementation of various measures already contained in the collective agreement and the health authorities have committed themselves to certain timeframes,” he said.

This development led the union to suspend industrial action, which would have seen doctors go on strike tomorrow between 8am and 9am.

Dr Balzan said the association also suspended directives to teaching doctors that were to come into force today over a separate dispute with the University of Malta that concerns union recognition.

He confirmed that MAM would hold talks with University officials tomorrow, reiterating that the association had filed a judicial protest last week since it expected to be included in talks on a collective agreement for lecturers.

“We will be attending Tuesday’s meeting with a positive attitude but ,depending on the outcome of talks, MAM will decide whether to reactivate industrial action related to the University,” Dr Balzan said.