The Union Haddiema Maqghudin will be ordering industrial action in the Mater Dei outpatients pharmacy from tomorrow and by the hospital's paramedics from next Wednesday, the union said yesterday.

From tomorrow, the waiting room of the pharmacy will close at midday and only those inside will be seen to. As their first directive in the industrial action, the paramedics will not be answering the telephone, the union said.

The UHM is appealing to the Health Department to implement a number of suggestions it had made regarding both the pharmacy and the paramedics.

It complained of lack of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, which was causing them unnecessary suffering.

The paramedics are still without the benefits of an agreement that was signed a year ago, the union said.