The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) today filed a judicial protest against the Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), after the latter issued a directive that as from the beginning of November, nurses and midwives should not administer drugs which pharmacists do not provide to the wards.
At present, nurses and midwives need to fill in covering letters to be able to acquire drugs to administer to patients, have a doctor sign the covering letter, and then visit the pharmacy to get the required drugs. MUMN president Paul Pace said that doctors are not being compliant and nurses have to chase after them to sign the covering letter, and this is only making matters more complex than necessarily, and creating more paper work.
The MAM argued that the directive is irresponsible and goes against the moral obligations of nurses and midwives, and puts at risk the safety and health of the patients. The MAM said that at present, there is no industrial dispute between the unions.
The judicial protest says that the MAM will hold the MUMN responsible for any consequences that arise as a result of the directive.