Government and the Malta Associationof Medicals (MAM) have reached two seperate agreements to regulate all services sub-contracted to third parties by government, including Vitals Global Healthcare. This was confimred by the Ministry for Health spokesperson.
The first agreement was signed in relation to the working conditions agreed between the government and doctors who work in the public sector. Government, MAM and the industrial relations unit were all signatory to this agreement.
The second agreement is similar to the one signed between the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) and the General Workers Union (GWU), which incorporates that all doctors who fall under the public sector will keep their benefits and conditions despite working with a private hospital, VGH. The spokesperson said this also means that they will keep the same working conditions and salaries agreed between government and MAM.
The collective agreement affects doctors who provide free public healthcare, and regulates doctors' working conditions.
The independent media were not invited to this event.