The UĦM Voice of the Workers has issued directives to biomedical engineers for the third week running, as talks with the government on several issues stalled.

The action started on March 20, with the union giving the technicians more fresh orders on a weekly basis.

According to the union, the government was not willing to come to an agreement and was dragging its feet. It said that a number of requests, including those dealing with allowances, had not been met, leaving it with no other option but to take industrial action.

The directives being issued by the UĦM affect staff at all State hospitals, homes for the elderly, health centres and the Addolorata Cemetery. Among other things, technicians have been instructed to refuse to get involved in the procurement of equipment.

The industrial action also affects sections of the intensive care unit and the renal unit.

In line with additional directives that came into force this week, the biomedical engineers have also been told by their union not to participate in any tendering processes.

Equipment that is non-stationary and needs to be carried around the hospitals must be taken to the biomedical workshops by the nurses in charge of the maintenance schedule.

Furthermore, the biomedical staff has been directed not to transport any of the equipment themselves.

The UĦM has also told the biomedical engineers not to carry out any work on the equipment unless it is located at Mater Dei Hospital or Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre.

“Equipment outside Mater Dei that is considered ‘life threatening’ has to be brought to the hospital by the nurse in charge of repairs,” the union insisted.

The biomedical engineers were also not allowed to coordinate any type of work with suppliers, excluding service contracts, the union said.

claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com