Health centres will be better equipped to treat minor emergencies under a new plan launched yesterday.

The changes would allow the hospital's emergency department to focus on more serious emergency and acute cases.

Moreover, patients with minor injuries and ailments will be treated more rapidly.

The changes are part of a national strategy for social protection and social inclusion unveiled yesterday.

Ironically they come as a dispute with doctors over staff shortages in the health centres is expected to see three of them being shut down on Monday.

On this point, Mr Dalli reiterated that the shortage in the medical profession could be solved through changes in work practices and not only by increasing numbers.

But the doctors' union insists the shortages are very real and, taking industrial action, will be diverting doctors out of three centres from Monday into another four - a move that will effectively shut down the three centres and leave another open only half the day.

The minister said it was not right for unions to instruct workers not to move to a different department if they were needed elsewhere. He said it was unacceptable to waste human resources in areas which were not needed.

"Work has to be organised to give the best service to the patient and not revolve around the convenience of the service provider," he said. A meeting is expected to be held today between the doctors' union and the government.

The report also speaks of having outpatient clinics open for longer hours and using doctors in the community to communicate the results of blood tests so as to reduce waiting times for appointments.

It also suggests the modernisation and expansion of the childhood immunisation programme to step up the prevention of communicable diseases. The authorities are also going to tap into EU funds to buy equipment for operating theatres and the radiology department at Gozo's hospital.

Moreover, it looks at different ways help people in need, including by increasing affordable housing. A review of the social security system will be undertaken to eliminate abuse in social services.

Minister Dalli underlined this point: "We need to cut down on abuse and waste in the social system as well as in its delivery," he said.

He said social services should only be available for those in need, who are in turn helped to become self-sufficient.

For this reason, the ministry is currently looking into the possibility of setting up a central means-testing office to gauge whether people need benefits as well as a specialised enforcement agency.

Studies are also underway to look at the current list of medicines given to patients for free. "There are medicines which we are not yet giving and which should become available," he said.