Bar any “late surprises” the doctors’ union and the government could seal an agreement regarding the transfer of three State hospitals from Vitals to Steward Health Care in a week’s time.

Medical Association of Malta general secretary Martin Balzan confirmed this, following the latest round of talks with the Health Minister on Tuesday.

He said the two sides have agreed on the text of a general framework regulating any future privatisations within the public healthcare sector and are working to finalise a separate text, which is specific to the current dispute.

Dr Balzan told the Times of Malta that talks would resume next Tuesday and said he was confident that an agreement was close.

“Our aim is to seal the overall agreement when the two issues are settled. Unless somebody springs surprises up we are prepared to wrap up the deal soon,” he said.

While declining to divulge the areas of disagreement in the talks, he said that there were “no major obstacles left”.

The two sides have been at loggerheads since the end of last year, following the surprise announcement that Vitals Global Healthcare was transferring its 30-year concession agreement to US group Steward Health Care, which is in the process of taking over the management of St Luke’s, Karin Grech and the Gozo General Hospital.

However, the government is insisting it was not bound by this clause, as it was not a privatisation but a transfer of shares.

Furthermore, the doctors’ union is saying that the government must remain in control of State hospitals, be it in a direct or an indirect manner.

Last month, MAM declared an industrial dispute and ordered a strike at the Mater Dei outpatient department and some of the health centres.

Though the union hailed this action as a success, the directives were put on hold pending the outcome of the talks with the government.