The government was continuing to hold talks with the Medical Association with a view to possibly averting industrial action at health centres next week, but the issue was not just a shortage of doctors,but wasteful work practices, Social Policy Minister John Dalli told Parliament today.

The MAM announced late yesterday that as from Monday, doctors who normally work at Rabat, Qormi and Cospicua health centres would work at other health centres in order to concentrate resources. The Rabat, Qormi and Cospicua health centres would therefore be kept closed. Gzira health centre would only open in the morning.

Mr Dalli said the shortage of doctors was a reality that the governemnt acknowledged. It was not a question of the governemnt not wanting to recruit more doctors.

But there was also the issue of wasteful work practices that needed to be addressed so that whatever resources were available could be better utilised.

Mr Dalli said that although the MAM was one of the trade unions that least had a habit of making strike threats, such threats by all trade unions needed to stop because they caused intolerable harm to patients.

The issue was raised when Labour MP Noel Farrugia asked the Minister of Education, Dolores Cristina, whether the closure of the health centres would have an impact on schools. The minister said the facilities would be in hand.