Health Minister Joe Cassar welcomed nurses’ and midwives’ contribution to provide a better health service, noting, however, their union’s “wrong attitude” towards his role as a minister.

Dr Cassar said he was glad to have been invited to address members of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, a union that “has, many times, disappointed me with its attitude and ugly, bad and wrong words addressed to me as Health Minister”.

“I hope, and sincerely wish, that on your way towards the development of nursing and midwifery professions you don’t cause harm with your words again,” Dr Cassar said, addressing the union’s conference on development in the nursing profession.

Union president Paul Pace last month called for Dr Cassar’s resignation over parts of a speech at a conference organised by the Medical Association of Malta themed Caring For Doctors.

Mr Pace said the minister had prioritised the welfare of doctors while no reference was made to the well-being of the other professionals working in the health sector.

During yesterday’s conference, Dr Cassar said citizens were interested in receiving a good service regardless of the level of qualifications of the nurses or midwives.

He reiterated the importance of the behaviour of nurses and midwives, which “determined” the level of the service provided.

He noted that nurses and midwives studied at the same places doctors and professionals did, doing away with “dislevels” between health professionals.