The Medical Association of Malta has postponed its planned industrial action until 27 March as a sign of goodwill, the union said in a statement this morning.

A council meeting was held on Monday to discuss the current dispute with Government.

The council unanimously approved that:

1) MAM will attend a meeting with government officials today, Tuesday 14 March.

2) As a gesture of good will the planned directives are being rescheduled to start on 27 March

3) Meetings with all MAM sections will go ahead as planned in the next few days so as to discuss the outcome of the MAM-Government meeting and the issue of directives.

The union has been in dispute with the government over the privatisation agreement reached by the government with Vitals Global Healthcare to run three hospitals – St Luke’s, Karen Grech and Gozo.

MAM had sought to defend the interests of its members, also requesting the Auditor General to investigate the deal.

Attempts to find common ground with the health authorities failed, with the result that MAM registered an industrial dispute.