Paramedics worried over lack of consultation

The Association of Paramedics and Health Professionals is concerned about the lack of consultation over proposed changes in the sector.

While being in favour of the primary healthcare reform, the association said it failed to understand how paramedics were not mentioned in the consultation document. This seemed to suggest the government's main concerns were only doctors and nurses.

The reform, announced last year, primarily proposed a registration system through which all patients would choose a family doctor to guide them in all their medical needs.

However, the association said it was still unclear whether patients would have to pay for a referral to a government paramedic of their choice.

Moreover, it said the fate of some health centres and whether they would be refurbished were not addressed in the document.

The association urged the government to include it in any further discussions about the reform's implementation in primary healthcare.

A government spokesman said consultation on the document was still open so the issues could still be discussed. The spokesman said the minister was more than willing to meet anyone interesting in the reform and had in fact already spoken with countless stakeholders.