Promotions to medical specialists, promised in the collective agreement signed last year, have not been issued by the government yet, threatening a brain drain among doctors, the Medical Association of Malta said yesterday.

It urged the health authorities to issue the promotions in order to keep in Malta those doctors who were doing their training. These doctors, who were working over 30-hour shifts, were now facing problems also with the provision of meals.

The promotions were intended for specialist trainees, higher specialist trainees and resident specialists upon completion of the training.