Healthcare is often at the very centre of the political debate. Unquestionably, healthcare is a key area which has a direct impact on the well-being of our society and impinges to a large extent on the national coffers. Undoubtedly, everybody acknowledges and recognises the sterling service provided by all engaged in the health professions and other workers providing ancillary services. They carry their responsibility with great care and strive to assist patients dutifully.
Unfortunately, trade unions representing different categories of workers in the health sector are getting hot under the collar. The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) and the Ministry of Health were at loggerheads last week. The MUMN went as far as to give notice of industrial action at the theatres, but these were averted after an agreement was reached between MUMN representatives and the Ministry of Health.
Taking to twitter immediately after the agreement was reached Health Minister Chris Fearne thanked all concerned for keeping patients’ interests foremost. Commendable. But the coin has two sides.
From a patient’s point of view, the news that the planned industrial action had been averted was most welcome, but the snide remark released in a tweet by Minster Fearne was uncalled for. The Minister’s tweet gave the impression that the MUMN was on the verge of resorting to industrial action for no evident reason. The tweet gave the impression that MUMN was prepared to put the patients’ interests and well-being at risk just the flex its muscle. Looking into the matter closely, one would find that MUMN was pushed into a tight corner because the Ministry of Health failed to honour what it had promised the MUMN earlier.
Unfortunately, a similar situation is developing with the Medical Association of Malta (MAM). At the time of writing this piece late on Sunday evening, the trade dispute between MAM and Government is still brewing, although it has been reported that a meeting is scheduled for Monday.
The MAM is not a trigger-happy union; on the contrary, it is a professional association led by a level-headed leadership team. The fact that MAM had to resort to industrial action speaks volumes. I am morally convinced that before MAM locked their horns with the Health Minister and gave notice of industrial action, the Union had exhausted all avenues. I augur that none of the parties unilaterally block the possibility of an agreement and that the strike action planned for Tuesday is averted.
From what has been reported in various sections of the media, the trade dispute between the MAM and the Ministry of Health hinges on the transfer of Karen Grech Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and the Gozo General Hospital from Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH) to Steward Health Care.
The issue was triggered by the approach adopted by the Health Ministry wherein MAM was not consulted prior to signing of the privatisation agreement of the three hospitals with Steward Health Care. The Health ministry was duty bound to consult MAM before the signing of the privatisation agreement at minimum six weeks before.
In the past, I have supported the privatisation of various government-owned authorities and companies once the necessary safeguards were taken. Today, to my knowledge, no one is seeking to nationalise what has been privatised during the PN administrations, even if, back then, PL stalwarts referred to the privatisation process as the selling of the family silver. How times change! I, however, like many others have serious doubts about the privatisation of the three hospitals.
It is amply clear that Government has failed to honour the commitment made with MAM when, out of the blue, Government transferred the three state hospitals to VGH through a public-private partnership which proved to be flawed to the extent that the contract tabled in Parliament had substantial parts redacted. Back then, when Government entered into the public-private partnership with VGH, MAM had alerted government that VGH had no previous experience in the healthcare sector. Within months, the serious concerns raised by MAM were proved right. This serious deficit surfaced within months. And it’s the taxpayer who had to make good for this.
In this situation the health ministry is trying to portray that MAM is in a fix. They are not. It is one of the professional associations which have dual roles and responsibilities. It has to protect the interests of its members but, in doing so, it is also duty bound to protect the wellbeing of patients. A position which few understand. Hopefully all those concerned realise that patients are not pawns on a chess board. The least that patients and their relatives expect are checkmates in the health sector as a result of a lack of transparency, accountability and good governance. After all, health care is not inconsequential. The 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25 defines health care as part of the right to an adequate standard of living.
Admittedly, health care is a complex, costly and multi-faceted sector, but I take this opportunity to float a suggestion which may help all concerned in the heath sector avoid future confrontation and trade disputes. A National Health Care Council made up of senior officials from the Ministry of Health, trade unions and the management of the various hospitals is constituted and is to meet regularly to identify bottlenecks and iron out differences before divergences are allowed to escalate. Obviously, the Minister cannot threaten workers and their trade unions with court action whenever a trade union registers a trade dispute.
[email protected]