Saturday, February 3, 2018

Government to meet MAM on Monday over doctors’ trade dispute

Government is set to meet with the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) on Monday to try and find solutions in order to avert potential industrial action.

Yesterday, this newsroom reported that the MAM General Secretary Martin Balzan had confirmed with The Malta Independent that negotiations with the government over the issues surrounding the concession sale of three state hospitals has stalled, leading to the union to prepare the issuing of directives.

Last year, government announced it would engage in a Public-Private-Partnership with a previously unknown company with no track record in the medical industry to maintain and operate Karen Grech Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and Gozo General Hospital. The company, Vitals Global Healthcare, has now sold off the concession to a Boston-based healthcare firm listed on the stock exchange called Steward Healthcare.

On 29 January, the MAM said that it registered a trade dispute with the government in view of "the breach of the collective agreement" over the VGH deal with Steward Healthcare for the transfer of concession. In comments with this newsroom, Balzan said that "negotiations are stalled so we [MAM] are proceeding with preparing directives. As previously stated, it will be widespread, meaning across the public health care service".

In his tweet, Minister Fearne also mentions having found solutions with the MUMN over issues regarding nurses, and that he is now working to find a solution with doctors.

 




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