Doctors suspend Tuesday strike

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has, with immediate effect, withdrawn its directive for all doctors in government hospitals, clinics and medical centres to strike for one hour between 8am and 9am on Tuesday morning. Emergency units, wards and operating theatres were to be excluded from the dispute.

Earlier this week, MAM registered an industrial action against the Health Ministry, which also included the doctors in question refraining from issuing medical certificates for 24 hours as of Tuesday.

However, these threats have now been withdrawn after a meeting on Sunday between the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Chris Fearne, and MAM representatives – with Martin Balzan as its head.

Sunday talks between Health Secretariat and MAM - confident that consultation works better then confrontation.

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) August 3, 2014

In a joint statement, the Ministry and MAM said that pending issues were discussed and progress was made. “MAM declared that it will suspend, with immediate effect, the industrial action scheduled for Tuesday.”

“The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Chris Fearne, and MAM President, Dr Martin Balzan, expressed their satisfaction that the discussions helped to iron out the existent issues, and they were carried out in the spirit of social dialogue.”