The Medical Association of Malta has said that any withdrawal of measures now would lead to a “major public health disaster and called on the Cabinet and the Prime Minister to declare a Public Health Emergency.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MAM went on to say that it “strongly condemns senseless and baseless protests against Covid measures.”

On Tuesday, it was announced that a Judicial Protest had been filed against the Superintendent for Public Health Dr Charmaine Gauci and Health Minister Chris Fearne. Protestors had argued that Public Health restrictions were unlawful without a declaration of a public state of emergency. The group includes lawyer and environmental activist Rudolph Ragonesi of the Gaia Foundation.

It argued that both Mr. Fearne and Prof. Gauci have a strong academic background and are well respected with the Medical profession not only for their competence but also for their integrity.

Mr. Fearne and Prof. Gauci are lucky to be backed by a highly qualified team, the MAM stated.

The MAM stated that at least five public health specialists occupy senior positions in WHO, one at the European centre of disease Control, one chairs public heath expert board for the European commission, and three are past presidents of major European public health associations.

While Malta’s numbers for Covid cases and deaths are still quite high, all the measures which have been approved to date have a strong scientific evidence to justify them, it said.

The MAM said that it “strongly disagrees with the reasons mentioned in the protest as not only they have no scientific basis but withdrawal of the current measures at the stage would lead to a major public health disaster.”

It stressed that “all public health legislation in all democratic countries in the European Union permit temporary suspension in personal freedoms, if justified by major public health threats such as Covid, as the great good to society prevails.”

“This also accepted by all major religious creeds and in fact the local religious leaders have been very supportive of the measures,” it added.

MAM said that based on the scientific advice of many experts, it has supported the opinion that with the current case numbers and mortality more restrictive measures may be necessary.

For this reason, MAM said that it is in disagreement with the PM and the Cabinet that additional public health measures have not been introduced.

The MAM concluded by saying that “it is essential that a public health emergency must be declared so that the sentiments exemplified in the protest are not encouraged among the general public.”

Permalink: It is essential that a public health emergency be declared – MAM