The health sector budget has increased by €29 million, according to the ministry, and will suffer an €8.5 million cut, according to the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses.

The MUMN condemned the “cuts” in a sector that was already having “great difficulty providing the current services”.

But the ministry said investment would continue to increase, with an increase in services, free medicines and treatment through public-private partnerships, pointing out that the entire budget allocated to health for this year amounted to €405.4 million.

Any budget “adjustments” in no way meant a decrease in services, the ministry insisted.

The union has requested an urgent meeting with Health Minister Joe Cassar, quoting him saying €3.1 million of the €8.5 million cut would be from the salaries of the workers. The MUMN is appealing to the government to revoke the cut, saying it was a clear sign of the government’s “poor vision”.

The government had broken its promise that the €40 million budget cut would not affect the health sector, it said.