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It is unacceptable that vulnerable patients end up being the victims of industrial actions ordered by unions, stated Malta Health Network (MHN).
The network representing 40 voluntary organisations from the healthcare sector said this in a statement on the occasion of European Patientsâ rights day.
MHN appealed for the respect of patientsâ rights as described in the European Charter of Patientsâ Rights especially the Right to avoid unnecessary suffering and pain.
The organizations’ network said it strongly supports the statement issued by the Commissioner for Health, Mr Charles Messina who described such actions as inhumane.
Earlier this week, the Commissioner for Health, said it is inhumane that patients are used as pawns during industrial action and called on unions to immediately suspend directives at healthcare facilities.
Vulnerable patients should never be the victims of unions industrial action, a network of 40 health organisations has said.
The Malta Health Network backed recent comments by the Commissioner for Health within the Office of the Ombudsman, who warned against inhumane actions by unions using patients as pawns with which to pressure authorities.
In a statement on Saturday, the European Patients Rights Day, the network said that while such situations may arise, unions and hospital authorities should seek to reach agreements that did not impose additional burdens on patients. The patients are helpless and vulnerable and have no choice but to be dependent on help for their basic needs, it said.