Minkejja li l-Gvern jirrispetta bis-sħiħ d-dritt t’azzjoni industrijali, minħabba li tali azzjonijiet dettati mill-MAM ser ikollom impatt fuq il-kura ta’ pazjenti, li m’għandhom qatt ikunu vittmi ta’ tali tilwimiet, il-Gvern huwa obbligat li jassigura li l-kura tan-nies tibqa’ tiġi salvagwardjata.
Il-Gvern determinat li jkun hu li jġorr il-piz tal-azzjonijiet. B’ hekk, biex servizzi essenzjali ta’ saħħa fil-komunita’ jibqgħu jiġu mgħotija fl-akbar firxa possibbli, u sabiex jiġi protett is-servizz fl-Isptar Mater Dei, il-Gvern qiegħed jitlob l-istituzzjonijiet ta’ saħħa privati, li magħhom huwa għandu ftehim, sabiex jipprovdu huma certi servizzi sakemm it-tilwima industrijali tiġi riżolta. Il-Gvern jibqa kommess lejn li jinstabu is-soluzzjonijiet kollha necessarji b’rispett lejn il-ħaddiema imma fuq kollox il-pazjenti tas-saħħa pubblika, f’ kull waqt u f’kull mument.
Għaldaqstant, peress li fil-ġurnata tallum, il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Jannar 2025 hija prevista interuzzjoni temporanja tas-servizzi tat-tabib tal-familja fil- klinici tal-Gvern tal-Gżira, Bormla, Hal Kirkop,Birkirkara u Ħal Qormi, il-Ministeru għas-Saħħa u l-Anzjanita Attiva ser idaħħal miżura imħallsa kompletament mill-gvern biex iħares l-interess u l-bżonn tal-pazjent, skont ftehim iffirmat mal-privat fl-2024. Għalhekk, il-Ministeru jixtieq jinforma Iill-pubbliku bis-segwenti:
1. Għal dawk il-persuni li għandhom bżonn urġenti ta’ tabib tal-familja, u li joqgħodu fl-akwati tac-cenrtru tas-Saħħa tal-Gżira, dawn il-persuni huma mitluba icemplu dan in-numru 99889223. Servizz limitat ta’ tabib tal-familja ha jkun offrut mill-Isptar ta Capua f’tas Sliema
2. Għal dawk il-persuni li għandhom bżonn urġenti ta’ tabib tal-familja, u li joqgħodu fl-akwati tac-cenrtru tas-Saħħa ta’ Bormla u ic-Centru tas-Saħħa ta’ Ħal Kirkop, dawn il-persuni huma mitluba icemplu dan in-numru 99889223. Servizz limitat ta’ tabib tal-familja ha jkun offrut mill-Isptar St James.
Dan is-servizz se jkun miftuħ bejn it-8 ta’ filgħodu u s-satejn ta’ wara nofs’inhar.
Il-Pubbliku huwa infurmat li s-servizzi fic-centri tas-Saħħa li jingħataw minn infermiera flimkien mas-servizzi tal-POC Clinics (INR għall-warfarina) ħa jkomplu għaddejin normali.
Il-Gvern ħa nota tat-talbiet tal-MAM tul ħamsa u tletin siegħa ta’ diskussjonijiet u negozjati. Peress li kif taf sew din il-Union, l-Gvern dejjem joffri impjieg għal kull tabib li dispost jaħdem fis-servizz pubbliku u jinvesti b’ mod konsistenti u b’ serjeta fit-taħriġ u specjaliżar tat-tobba, jifhem li minkejja dawn l-isforzi kollha (li jinkludu gradwati tas-St Mary’s/Bart’s t’Għawdex) xorta hemm bżonn ta’ aktar tobba u għalhekk qed jesplora kull possibilita’ oħra li jattira aktar tobba.
While the Government fully respects the right to industrial action, given that such actions dictated by the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) will impact patient care – patients who should never become victims of such disputes – the Government is obliged to ensure that public healthcare continues to be safeguarded.
The Government is determined to shoulder the burden of these actions. Therefore, to maintain essential health services in the community at the widest possible range and to protect services at Mater Dei Hospital, the Government is requesting private healthcare institutions, with which it has agreements, to provide certain services until the industrial dispute is resolved. The Government remains committed to finding all necessary solutions with respect for the workers but, above all, for public healthcare patients at all times.
Therefore, as of Friday, January 24, 2025, when a temporary interruption of family doctor services is expected at the Government clinics in Gżira, Bormla, Ħal Kirkop, Birkirkara, and Ħal Qormi, the Ministry for Health and Active Aging has implemented a measure fully funded by the Government to safeguard patients’ interests and needs, according to an agreement signed with the private sector in 2024. Therefore, the Ministry wishes to inform the public of the following:
1. For individuals urgently needing a family doctor and residing in the areas served by the Gżira Health Centre, they are requested to call 99889223. A limited family doctor service will be offered by Saint James (Capua) Hospital in Sliema.
2. For individuals urgently needing a family doctor and residing in the areas served by the Bormla Health Centre and the Ħal Kirkop Health Centre, they are requested to call 99889223. A limited family doctor service will be offered by Saint James Hospital in Zejtun.
These services will be available between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
The public is informed that services at health centres provided by nurses, along with POC Clinic services (such as INR for Warfarin patients), will continue as normal.
The Government has noted MAM’s demands during 35 hours of discussions and negotiations. As this union knows well, the Government has always offered employment to every doctor willing to work in the public service and consistently invests in the training and specialization of doctors. While understanding that, despite these efforts (including graduates from St. Mary’s/Bart’s in Gozo), there is still a need for more doctors, the Government is exploring all other possibilities to attract additional medical professionals.