Medical Association of Malta (MAM) President Martin Balzan has urged all doctors, nurses and health care professionals to work together in light of the recent streaming problems at health centres across Malta and Gozo.
Up until a few weeks ago, all health centres in Malta and Gozo were making use of a simple triage system for streaming patients into different sections of the health centre. This system was a rudimentary shield protecting health professionals at health centres from a possible Covid-19 outbreak.
Late last month, Primary Health Care – for no apparent reason – decided to stop using this system at the disadvantage of the health professionals facing patients on a daily basis. The moment the system was stopped, MUMN members who worked in Primary Health, were given directives to go on strike.
Primary Health Care then responded by asking receptionists at health centres to conduct the screening process but MUMN objected and stated that “those at reception did not have the necessary skills to carry out the screening”. Doctors would often help out and oversee the screening process.
Given that more than two weeks have passed and no word from the relevant health authorities was given, MUMN escalated the directives for nurses working in Primary Health Care.
Speaking to Balzan, he said that “although the position taken by MUMN is contradictory in itself, the solution to this problem is all in the hands of the government”.
Balzan also said that the MAM has no dispute with the government on this matter.
“From our (MAM) point of view, it is very simple: we are in favour of a multi-disciplinary team approach. We want doctors, nurses and all health care professionals to work together and get the job done”, Balzan said.
Balzan explained that this multi-disciplinary approach already exists in Mater Dei. “In an operating theatre the doctor is not the only one doing the work, the nurses have a very important role as well as the cleaners. Everybody is needed and everybody has an important role to play."
Questions sent to the Health Ministry two weeks ago have remained unanswered.