Students reading for a Master's in Dental Surgery have informed the government that they plan to call a protest if they are not given professional indemnity insurance (PI).

An email that was sent to the Health Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Office of the Prime Minister and a number of media houses says that PI was not provided for the Gozo Clinic and the Mobile Dental Unit (MDU), and it only recently provided PI for the Mater Dei Teaching Clinic.

If this issue is not resolved, the students said that they will be forced to host a "peaceful protest" on 7 June. "Indeed, the entire nation will know of this injustice."

"Professional indemnity insurance, or PI, covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage resulting from negligent services or advice provided by a business or an individual," students explained in the email.

The email explained that "PI has always been provided, protecting tutors from any legal issues within this environment of learning - without PI, tutors are not protected should anything go askew and the teaching environment is not possible."

Students pointed out how earlier this year, PI for the Faculty of Dental Surgery under the premises of Mater Dei, the new Gozo Clinic and the MDU was not renewed. This meant that the Teaching Clinics had to close down, which wasted three weeks of clinical training and caused "immeasurable quantities of mental and emotional stress."

Although PI was then provided for the Mater Dei Teaching Clinic, the Faculty has still not been given PI for the other Clinic and Unit, "citing reluctance from the Ministries of Health and Education to provide PI and other funding."

"Considering the fact that the course is growing in the number of students, considering the incredible extent which we students have given back to the community through voluntary work and also as the main hands in the COVID-19 vaccination effort, considering the growing waiting lists for dental services and considering that the government happily sends medical students to Rome - the lack of PI for the Gozo Clinic and MDU is an insult, a kick in the teeth, for us dental students and our Faculty."

Students have also informed the Malta Association of Dental Students, which agreed to offer its support to them.