The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) have presented a “proposal for a solution” in its meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, General Secretary Martin Balzan has told The Malta Independent.

Balzan would not divulge what the proposal entailed, explaining that he did not want to compromise the current state of negotiations.

Industrial action will be stopped until the government gives its reply in a meeting to be held next week.

Asked whether he believed the discussions could reach a successful conclusion and if further industrial action will be called, Balzan insisted that MAM's principles behind their concerns remained the same, and said that “all options remain open”.

MAM issued a one-day strike directive on Tuesday after discussions with the government failed to satisfy concerns. MAM registered a dispute after it stated at the government broke its collective agreement by failing to inform the union and get its consent on the concession transfer between Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Healthcare.