Health department files counter-protest over appointment of disease control chief

The Department of Health today filed a counter-protest to the Medical Association's objections to the appointment of Paula Vassallo - a dental surgeon with a postgraduate diploma in public health- as the new chief of disease control. 

The appointment of Vassallo is opposed by the Medical Association of Malta and the Malta Association of Public Health Medicine, who claimed that she is not the “medical specialist” required for the job. Last week, MAM filed a judicial protest arguing that Vassallo is not qualified for the job as she was not a medical doctor. 

But the health ministry has stuck to its guns and said that the call for application clearly lists the managerial abilities, the knowledge and qualifications required for the post, and that these requirements are not limited to medical doctors.

The ministry added that the call stipulated that applicants must effectively manage human resources in the public health sector.

The counter-protest also states that the alleged violation of a collective agreement listed by MAM is not true, as there is no clause in the collective agreement binding the Government to appoint a doctor specialised in public health the post of director.