The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) will call further industrial action on 15 and 16 February if negotiations with the government fail to reach a satisfactory conclusion. It will also proceed with legal action if it becomes necessary.
In a MAM council resolution passed on Thursday evening and seen by The Malta Independent, it is also revealed that Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne is yet to send documents requested by MAM concerning the concession transfer of three public hospitals, despite being promised to receive them by 7 February.
The association 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, 21 months into operations, over what is believed to be serious mounting financial pressure.
The union called a first strike for last Tuesday, which it said was a success, but is now looking ahead towards giving fresh directives.
MAM also insists that the government has breached the collective agreement, which was signed last May, after it was not informed or consulted six weeks prior to the concession deal transfer was made, a clause which General Secretary Martin Balzan told INDEPTH MAM fought hard for after the Karin Grech, St Luke’s, and the Gozo hospitals were “sold behind [their] back.”
Two meetings have taken place over the last week but the first indications, the resolution reads, are that while the government is agreeing in principle with MAM, it will not be accepting the association’s proposals, either because of a “lack of intention and/or serious difficulties arising from a contract with inadequate exit clauses resulting from lack of expertise or otherwise in the drafting of the original contract”.
MAM will now write to the third parties involved in the concession to inform it of the current dispute and its consequences should the dispute remain unresolved, and make public such correspondence.
The resolution also reiterated that while not strictly against PPPs, the union remains opposed in principle to PPPs where public health services are operated by profit making organisations
Other clauses include making sure that hospital management gives patients who have missed their appointment because of Tuesday’s strike another appointment not later than four weeks from the date of industrial action; and to organize meetings to inform members should the new directives involve other sectors not previously included, and/or different or additional directives be issued.
MAM council resolution –Industrial dispute
8th February 2018
Approved unanimously
Pursuant to MAM motion dated Monday 29th January 2018, MAM notes that
· while meetings have been held with government
· while it approves the negotiating, position taken by its leadership
· while industrial action was successful and widely adhered to by members.
· While re-iterating that it is not against PPPs, it remains opposed in principle to PPPs where public health services are operated by profit making organisations, undermining the social justice in health care, and leading to a fundamental problem in access in vulnerable groups.
To date
1. Documents requested from government as part of the concession transfer on Wednesday 7th February, despite the promises of transparency on contracts have not yet been received
2. That the first indications are that while government is agreeing in principle with MAM it will not be accepting MAM proposals, either because of lack of intention and/or serious difficulties arising from a contract with inadequate exit clauses resulting from lack of expertise or otherwise in the drafting of the original contract.
3. Resolves and authorizes MAM
1. To write to third parties involved in the concession of its current dispute and its consequences should the dispute remain unresolved and make public such correspondence.
2. To proceed with further industrial action on the 15th and 16th of February should negotiations fail to reach a satisfactory conclusion by that date.
3. To organize meetings to inform members should the new directives involve other sectors not previously included, and/or different or additional directives be issued
4. To proceed with legal action should this become necessary as indicated by its legal advisors.
5. To make sure that hospital management re-appoints patients who have missed their appointment by not later than four weeks of the date of industrial action.