From Dr M. Balzan
Ms Caruana Galizia recently chose to comment on MAM’s statement about the unequal pay of consultant surgeons (TMIS, 24 July).
I would like to thank your columnist for her attention to our press releases and for highlighting the great discrepancy that exists between pay and the level of training and responsibility doctors have to shoulder. Unfortunately, her arguments are based on government “spin”, which has introduced an emotional angle to the argument. This smokescreen seems to be its only form of defence, as legally it does not have a leg to stand on!
Let MAM assure your readers that we wholeheartedly endorse the praise that has been expressed about the individual concerned without any reservations.
The real issue is that doctors in the Health Service are grossly underpaid but still deliver an excellent service. This is borne out by the excellent result of all medical interventions (we rank among the highest in the world) and by persistently high patient satisfaction rates. Apparently Ms Caruana Galizia seems to agree with us on this matter.
We are also sure that if Ms Caruana Galizia had to pick a legal mind she would be assured that it goes against the law (both local and EU) for an employer to go against a collective agreement and single out an individual and offer him a decent (and well deserved) salary without offering the same to other doctors doing similar, or in this case, exactly the same work. Legality and having a government as a model law-abiding employer is the essence of every healthy democracy.
There is already a “brain drain” of young doctors emigrating and getting far superior jobs and conditions of work abroad. This tide can only be stemmed by improving doctors’ conditions. The health of the nation can only be maintained by the best medical minds.
The government cannot escape the fact that it has to give doctors better conditions and continue the trend that, so far, has only been offered to one individual.
Martin Balzan
General Secretary
The Medical Association of Malta