[WATCH] Conference highlights NGOs’ contribution in health sector

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the health sector need to work closer together if they are to overcome the many challenges they face, according to health minister Chris Fearne.

Fearne, who was addressing Malta’s first conference bringing together NGOs and representatives from the health sector, said that he was encouraged to see so many organisations and individuals, who – many times, voluntarily – came forward to work in the best interests of patients.

He also noted that public consultation exercises had proven invaluable and said that whenever a strategy was drawn up in the past three years, public consultation was given the prominence it deserved.

Fearned said he was pleased to note that NGOs and the health sector would make a serious effort to hold similar conferences in the future, as a means to remain in contact and updated.

“This conference is a good foundation on which to work,” he said. “NGOs operating within the health sector are a treasure.”