Doctors 'grossly underpaid'

Doctors are "grossly underpaid," the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) claimed yesterday.

It said this was why the Health Division was finding it hard to retain highly trained members of the medical profession.

The association also argued that the Health Division could not pick and choose a particular doctor and offer him a vastly superior pay packet than that earned by other doctors.

Last week MAM complained that a doctor, with a salary of Lm45,000, was earning six times the amount his colleagues earned for the same work.

The Health Division had replied that the working conditions of the doctor had been established 10 years ago and the tax was being paid for by the division.

But the association yesterday countered by arguing that: "If a particular consultant is being paid six times the amount received by his colleagues, who have the same level of responsibility, then clearly there is no equality of treatment.

"The fact that this shameful and unjust act of discrimination has been perpetuated for over 10 years does not justify its continuation."

Calling on the division to regularise its position immediately "or face serious consequences", it said the division could not appoint an individual without an official call for applications and the setting up of a selection board. This went against the Constitution, the public service management code and the collective agreement.

Last week, the MAM had complained that certain posts were not being advertised publicly and that a selection board was not being appointed as required by local and EU law.