Update – Directives updated below – The Council of the Medical Association of Malta said that it has unanimously agreed to go ahead with the directives as from tomorrow, Thursday, the 6th of August.

In a statement, the council of the MAM said that it will proceed with the proposed industrial action as from tomorrow at 8am up to midnight of Wednesday, the 12th of August.

It added that “should a satisfactory agreement not be reached MAM may extend the duration and/or introduce new directives.”

MAM went on to say that “Malta is currently in the thick of a new epidemic caused by mass events which is leading to around 15 new cases per day among the local population, and has already been blacklisted by 4 EU countries.”

It stated that “rather than control the epidemic the Government, against the advice of the Superintendent of Public Health has decided to forge ahead with multiple mass events including those for thousands of people.”

Furthermore, it said, parties and standing up events similar to the party at Radisson can still go ahead. “What all the other EU countries are strictly prohibiting, our authorities are doing exactly the opposite.”

MAM argued that “very basic guidelines with many loopholes based on self-assessments have been introduced and enforcement to date has been weak.”

It stressed that These parties carry a grave risk of a large spike in cases, especially among vulnerable groups posing unnecessary risks to healthcare professionals.

Many more EU countries may decide to blacklist Malta if the numbers continue to increase, further damaging the economy, said MAM – “All mass events should be stopped immediately.”

The directive amendments are as follows:

1. Patients who have had their outpatients appointment cancelled may be contacted by phone by the respective Medical team

2. Cardiology procedures which are considered urgent or to be performed on patients at high risk should not be cancelled

3. Anticoagulation clinics are exempted from directive and shall take place normally

4. Elective surgeries to be performed in Gozo General Hospital shall be postponed except for urgent surgery and surgery for cancer.

5. Elective procedures at all Health Centres shall be cancelled

Gozo

1) From Thursday 6th August, all Gozo General Hospital outpatients appointments are postponed. This directive will remain in force for one week.

(Doctors working in Oncology, psychiatry, geriatrics and paediatrics are exempt)

2) All Community Clinics (bereg) will remain closed.

3) All patients will be triaged at the Victoria Health Centre. Non urgent appointments will be postponed.

Outpatients which are cancelled may be contacted by phone

Mater Dei Hospital

1) From Thursday 6th August, all Mater Dei outpatients appointments are postponed. This directive will remain in force for one week.

2) All elective surgery will be postponed from Thursday 6th August. All urgent and cancer surgery is exempt from this directive.

Cardiology procedures which are considered urgent or to be performed on patients at high risk should not be cancelled

3) All elective ultrasound lists are postponed from Thursday 6th August. This directive will remain in force for one week.

4) All doctors in the Accident and Emergency Department are exempt from directives

5) All vulnerable doctors are to avoid frontline work and to report for administrative or telephone duties.

Patients who have had their outpatients appointment cancelled may be contacted by phone by the respective Medical team

Anticoagulation clinics are exempted both in hospitals and health centres.

Health Centres

1) All 42 Community Clinics will remain closed and no General Practitioners will attend. This directive will remain in force for one week

2) All Health Centres will set up a triage desk which will be manned by a doctor at all times.

3) On Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August, only the Health Centres in Mosta, Floriana, Paola and Victoria (Gozo) will open. All doctors assigned to satellite Health Centres are to report to the main Health Centres on these days.

4) All doctors are to wear PPE in all clinical areas

5) All diabetic and medical consultant clinic appointments will be postponed or held by telephone

6) All vulnerable doctors are to avoid frontline work and to report for administrative or telephone duties.

Anticoagulation clinics are exempted both in hospitals and health centres.

Elective procedures at all Health Centres shall be cancelled

Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC)

All Doctors in SAMOC are exempt from directives

Mount Carmel Hospital and community psychiatry

All Doctors in psychiatry are exempt from directives for now.

Public Health doctors and doctors working in swabbing centres.

Exempt from directives due to pandemic

Karen Grech Hospital, Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine

Exempt from directives.

Obstetric outpatients (Not gynaecology)

Exempt from directives.

Elective surgeries to be performed in Gozo General Hospital shall be postponed except for urgent surgery and surgery for cancer

Anticoagulation clinics are exempted both in hospitals and health centres.

MAM said that it is encouraging doctors who are able to apply to work some sessions in swabbing and contact tracing in order to keep up with demand.

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