Non-political proposal on medical committee still subject to negotiation

I refer to the article entitled Doctors Sense "Political Interference" In Proposal (March 17).

As the journalist rightly pointed out, this is a proposal and is still subject to negotiations with all stakeholders.

In terms of the Health Care Professions Act, the Specialist Accreditation Committee for medical specialists is at present made up of representatives of professional associations listed in Schedule IV of the Act, a representative of the Medical Council and a representative of the Superintendent of Public Health. The chairman is chosen by the group from among themselves.

The government's proposal included that the chairman would be a person with a legal background as is the case with all the regulatory councils and the committee would be made up of seven elected members from among the associations listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Act and six members nominated by the government from among the associations listed in the same schedule but have not had an elected member. The proposals also included provisions to ensure that specialties which have no association listed in the Fourth Schedule would also be represented on the SAC when matters relating to that particular specialty were being discussed.

The proposed amendments as well as counter proposals made by the Medical Association of Malta are still being evaluated and discussed and it is felt that any further comment on the details of such proposals at this stage would be premature.