Mater Dei dentists initiate industrial action after ministry fails to submit counter-proposals

The Dentists’ Department at Mater Dei Hospital have initiated industrial action, due to concerns over a lack of investment and necessary support, UHM Voice of the Workers has said in a statement.

“One administration after another has ignored the need for investment to see how the department can be strengthened, to start offering better and more vast services. The Health Department is leaving this department without the necessary help, so much so, that the numbers of dentists in the department has reduced drastically,” the statement read.

UHM said that it has been sending proposals for the department for the last eight years, including requests for an adequate package for dentists and structural changes to provide improved services to the public. In July of this year, the Ministry called a meeting with UHM, where the union pushed for the conclusion of an agreement.

“The administration requested that they have six weeks to present counter-proposals so that official negotiations can begin immediately. Despite waiting all these weeks, the Ministry postponed the meeting at the last moment and were given a two week extension. After waiting two weeks, the Ministry failed to produce the long-awaited counter-proposals.”

The industrial dispute was thus called, which will see dentists only work on emergency cases, and will remain in effect until the union receives the counter-proposals.

“UHM Voice of-the Workers hopes that this is not a tactic of the government to sell the service sold to the private sector.”