The Medical Association of Malta said that strike directives planned for Thursday 15 and Friday 16 February have been put on hold as a gesture of goodwill.

While it appears that progress has been registered in principle it is looking forward to the next meeting on Wednesday with the hope that both sides can continue working to reach a satisfactory conclusion, MAM said in a statement.

Progress had been registered in a meeting on Monday.

The union and the government have been at loggerheads ever since Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH) announced that it would be selling its 30-year concession to American company Steward Healthcare, after just 21 months, over what is believed to be serious mounting financial pressure.

MAM already ordered a strike that took place on 6 February.