Updated: Increase in birth rate 'seasonal' - Ministry of health

The ministry has faith in decisions taken by consultants which it says are taken "in the interest of the mother and child"

The ministry appealed to consultants, doctors, midwives and nurses to continue to work whilst discussions are ongoing despite threatened industrial action to be taken by MUMN if doctors continue to induce labour unnecessarily, to ensure welfare of mother and child is not jeapordised, especially during the festive season. 

The Medical Association of Malta echoes the ministry's opinion saying doctors "take independent decisions" of whether to induce labour according to the well-being of the mother and child. 

The president of the Medical Association of Malta (MAM), Martin Balzan has warned against nurses and midwives taking potentially illegal industrial action, after the nurses' union MUMN said it would issue directives over doctors inducing labour unnecessarily.

Responding to the allegations, Balzan said the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses' claims were not backed by scientific research. "To make an accusation that doctors are inducing labour unnecessarily, presumably for convenience's sake, can only be grounded by scientific research, which is not available to the best of my knowledge."

The MUMN today warned of industrial action if doctors continue to induce labour where it is not necessary, and gave the Health Division 24 hours to address practices of inducing labour when Mater Dei Hospital cannot cope with the number of patients.

Balzan said that the problem is a matter of bed space that the health minister must address together with hospital administration. He also warned against midwives and nurses following directives that may not be legal. "Anyone occupied with emergency care cannot follow directives imposed by the union without facing heavy legislative measures."

The MUMN said the maternity ward at Mater Dei hospital has been inundated with induced births to the point that midwives cannot cope with the number of patients and are putting the welfare of both mother and baby at risk.

Paul Pace, the secretary-general of the MUMN, said that according to statistics Malta has the highest number of induced births in Europe, and although some births need to be induced for medical reasons, a great majority of the induced births in Malta are abusing medical system.

“I am not against inducing labour at all, however it is important to ensure that Mater Dei Hospital can cope with the amount of births taking place at any one time so that welfare of the mother and baby can be taken into account.”

Pace says that there are no standards that have to be met to have an induced birth and as a result some doctors may be “going overboard,” in ordering induced labour.