24/12/2025
🎄 End of Year Message from the President of the Medical Association of Malta On behalf of Council 🎄
Dear Colleagues,
As the year draws to a close, I would like, on behalf of the Council of the Medical Association of Malta, to extend our sincere Christmas and New Year’s wishes to you and to your families.
It is a true privilege to represent our noble profession, and we are deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in us. Over the past year, Council has undergone a significant transformation, re-inventing the way it works, with a strong emphasis on transparency, communication, and active engagement with all sectors of the profession.
We firmly believe that open channels of communication strengthen our Association. One of our key achievements has been reaching all corners of the profession through a single communication channel, bringing doctors together, informed and engaged. This has empowered members and Council alike. On many occasions, issues raised were resolved through the shared experience of colleagues, while in others Council directly engaged with management and senior decision-makers—often finding that doors were already open and solutions forthcoming because the concerns raised were principled and justified.
In line with this approach, we also introduced an issue-reporting form received by the entire Council, and we are committed to responding to every submission.
There are three achievements I am particularly proud of.
First, the unity of the profession. Following one of the most contested elections in the Association’s history, Council has come together as a cohesive and effective team. The election itself significantly raised the profile of MAM, resulting in record membership numbers—placing us in a strong and united position as we approach negotiations for the next collective agreement.
Second, the Health Professions Act. From the outset, Council prioritised the need for a strong and effective Medical Council. Through sustained advocacy and engagement, including with the current Minister, we are confident that the final legislation will be fairer, more practical, and better suited to the realities of medical practice. We were fortunate that the current Minister had the courage to address this long-standing concern and was receptive to our feedback.
Third, Council made it a point to reach out to all doctors and to act on issues grounded in sound principles. This was clearly reflected in our advocacy for foundation doctors, emphasising their value and defining safe boundaries of work, as well as in our work on behalf of international doctors—senior specialists whose contribution has been invaluable, and for whom we have now secured permanent appointments after four years of service.
The coming year will be a crucial one as preparations for the next collective agreement are already well underway. We are committed to continue with the modernization process of the Association- we are very advanced in the process of digitalization of the Association’s processes like membership payment, voting processes etc.
I conclude by wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and all the very best for the New Year. ✨
Looking ahead to 2026, our commitment remains unchanged: to serve our doctors, to listen to them, and to negotiate firmly on their behalf.
Yours sincerely,
Patrick Sammut
President
Medical Association of Malta
On behalf of Council
