[WATCH] Private hospitals ‘key’ partners in health sector

PN meets private health operators. Video: Ray Attard

The private sector in health plays a vital role and should play a “complimentary role to public health services”, Nationalist MP Claudio Grech said, stressing that the sector has the potential to grow and contribute more to the health system and the economy.

During a meeting with representatives of private hospitals held at the PN headquarters in Pietà, Grech said that the Opposition was currently reviewing its policies and is holding a number of meetings with all stakeholders in the health sector.

“The private sector should not be used as a stop gap tool by government,” Grech said while underlining the need for better cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Calling for further integration of the private and public sectors, Grech noted that following the government’s decision to carry on outsourcing cataract operations to the private sector, introduced by the previous administration, the waiting list had seen a drastic increase for the first time in five years.

In the presence of two PN candidates for the forthcoming European elections, Ray Bugeja and Roberta Metsola, Grech added that “one third of the expenditure on health comes out of the peoples pockets.”

Private hospital members Pierre Vassallo, Isabelle Vella and Maria Bugeja were present for the meeting.