Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/729537
3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2016 News SOON ON TVM For advertising on XTRA contact Claire Ciantar on: cciantar@mediatoday.com.mt Adrian Hillman claims unfair dismissal by Allied Newspapers MAT THEW AGIUS THE former managing director of Allied Newspapers, Adrian Hillman, has taken his former employers to court seeking compensation for unfair dis- missal in the wake of the Pana- ma Papers scandal. Hillman resigned from the publisher, who had suspend- ed him in March after he was named in the Panama Papers exposé. Hillman had been managing director of Allied Newspapers and non-executive chairman of its sister company, Progress Press Ltd, at the time, but resigned on May 25th in the aftermath of the scandal. Hillman had tendered his resignation from the company, claiming constructive dismiss- al. "The fact that things were left pending for so long was prejudicing his health and that of his family," the application is reported to read. He is arguing that his resigna- tion was prompted by the un- certainty of his position. He had never been formally notified of any disciplinary action against him. In a statement the board of directors of Allied Newspapers "robustly" rejected Hillman's claims of unfair dismissal. In March, Malta Independent columnist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia had published claims that Hillman had been receiving kickbacks from Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister's chief of staff. Schembri also owns Kasco Ltd, a paper sup- plier, and was alleged to have been awarded work contracts at Progress Press in return for kickbacks. Both men's names had ap- peared in the Panama Papers, as owners of offshore companies in secretive jurisdictions. Al- lied Newspapers had suspended Hillman pending the outcome of an "independent internal inquiry" to look into the alle- gations. The inquiry has been concluded, but its findings are yet to be made public. The court application, which was filed against the publisher before the Industrial Tribunal earlier yesterday, was not im- mediately available, however Hillman is reportedly claiming that he had not been formally notified of the investigation in his regard and had not heard anything from the company un- til he was summoned to appear before the inquiry board in May. He is reported to have said that this was the first time he was made aware of the existence of the board and had insisted on being officially informed what was being alleged in his regard. He claimed the company's sub- sequent failure to respond had placed him in an "unsustainable position, effectively dismissing him without informing him so." Prof. Ian Refalo signed the ap- plication. Medical Council opposes sale of morning-after pill over the counter MIRIAM DALLI THE Medical Council Malta has declared itself against the sale of the emergency contraceptive with- out a doctor's prescription, arguing that the pill has different side-ef- fects that women needed to be well aware of. Refusing to enter into the merits of whether the morning-after pill (MAP) was an abortifacient or not, MCM spokesperson Doreen Cas- sar insisted that the provision of 'professional conscientious objec- tor' must be in place in any law al- lowing the retail of the MAP. Yesterday, the council delivered its position to a joint parliamentary committee, following an internal discussion. "There are various sci- entific studies and papers which give conflicting and diverse views. I don't think it is up to the Medical Council to enter into subjects that should be determined by the bio- ethics committee," MCM president Ilona Debono said. "In view of the different stud- ies, it is up to the doctor to decide whether he wants to prescribe the morning-after pill or not. A system of conscientious objector must be in place." Prompted by Health Minister Chris Fearne, Cassar said that the sale of the emergency contraceptive pill without a doctor's prescription would undermine the principles of autonomy and competence. "An over-the-counter purchase can be made by anyone, irrespec- tive of gender. If a man can pur- chase the morning-after pill, whose autonomy are we protecting? How can a doctor advise a woman who is severely asthmatic or suffer- ing from epilepsy, that taking the emergency contraception could be harmful? Who is going to tell an overweight woman that the morn- ing-after pill probably won't work?" The Medical Council said that patients had a right to know of the side effects and risks that existed and of efficacy failure if a woman weighs over 77kg. A debate on whether the morning-after pill – such as ellaOne and Levonelle – should be allowed in Malta has been raging ever since the Women's Rights Foundation filed a judicial protest demanding its legislation. The lack of consensus, including among MPs, led Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to request a report by three parliamentary commit- tees, before the Medicines Author- ity can actually give its go ahead for the importation of the morning-af- ter pill. The report is currently be- ing drawn up and will be presented to parliament when the House of Representatives reconvenes in Oc- tober. While the morning-after pill is not available in Malta, doctors in Malta still prescribe a 'substitute'. Esmya (ulipristal acetate 5mg) is used for uterine fibroids – non- cancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during child- bearing years – and taking six pills will achieve the same results of an emergency contraceptive, a medi- cal source had told MaltaToday. Despite the widespread practice, the Medical Council yesterday told MPs that it had never received such reports. In reply to a question by Labour MP Etienne Grech, Cassar said that a doctor caught prescribing a sub- stitute "would be in serious trou- ble" if facing the council. Adrian Hillman