Doctors claim political interference at health centres has increased in the last two years
● Workers at health centres feel that interference undermines organised structure
Doctors who work in health centres have complained that the political interference by individuals who work at Ministries is becoming more frequent.
Sources who spoke with The Malta Independent said that doctors and health centre workers have to deal with pressure from “people who work in various Ministries” who want patients without appointments to skip the waiting lists.
Those who complained believe that this interference, when compared to previous years, has become more frequent. “We cannot really present any statistics, because it ultimately boils down to perception. But doctors can feel that this pressure has increased in the last couple of years.”
Furthermore, workers at health centres feel that this interference undermines the organised structure in the centres.
Most of these interferences take place with a simple phone call. “Usually they call us so that someone they know gets served there and then, while completely ignoring the appointment system that is made to keep things in order. We are not such a disciplined nation, but when it comes to appointments at least, we should be able to wait. Especially since waiting times in health centres is not excessive.”
Request vary from home visits to prescriptions
The requests vary from arrangements for doctors to make home visits to medicines prescription. Those who are given preference with appointments are turning up at the health centres, instead of sticking to their allocated time, causing more crowding.
The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) has already condemned this political interference in the daily running of health centres either directly or indirectly. MAM argues that this is unfair on patients who have emergency problems and have to face delays due to overcrowding.
Issue has spread to Mater Dei - PN
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party has said that in some instances this interference is coming directly from Castille and is not limited to health centres but is also present at Mater Dei.
MAM has recently decided to postpone its industrial dispute to 20 June if the proposals by the Association are not approved. However, speaking to The Malta Independent, MAM President Mr Gordon Caruana Dingli said that there has been progress in the talks with the government.
“It seems that there is room for agreement and the government has showed a good will to cooperate. I believe that the issues we mentioned can be solved,” he added.
This newsroom also contacted MUMN on the alleged political interferences in health centres. But a spokesperson said that the scenario for nurses and midwives is completely different.
“Usually they call us so that someone they know gets served there and then, while ignoring completely the appointment system that is made to keep things in order ”