The government is very willing to work in collaboration with NGOs regarding services to the community but is equally keen on keeping a clean, transparent and prescriptive approach by experts in the field, a spokesperson for the health ministry said.

The spokesperson was speaking to The Malta Independent in reaction to stories in the media last week that cuts in finances previously directed to an NGO, were affecting the services the NGO delivered.

Parents of children receiving services at Inspire wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to look into the matter.

Last week, Inspire and the services it provides to disabled children were in the news because services that cost over €200,000 annually have been stopped since the foundation cannot afford them by itself. Some 250 children used to benefit from these services up till early this year.

The CEO of Inspire, Nathan Farrugia said that in the past, the Education Ministry used to give a lump sum to Eden Foundation for a holistic programme that included therapy and education. Eventually, Eden Foundation merged with the Razzett tal- Ħbiberija and became known as Inspire. Funds were secured.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry wanted to review the programme being funded and it consequently increased funding for the educational services. However, according to Mr Farrugia, the ministry decided it was not going to fund therapy any longer, because this falls under the health ministry’s remit.

Late last year, a call for quotations was issued for occupational therapy services provided by the Child Development and Assessment Unit (CDAU), after a shortage of therapists was identified.

Inspire made its quotation and an agreement was reached for it to start giving these services in view of long waiting lists CDAU had.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, the health ministry spokesperson clarified that the issue has nothing to do with austerity measures but the government pays for services it receives. It is obliged to give a service and address the needs of children and people who need them, but cannot fund services given by an organisation.

Inspire was, and is, contending that there were a number of lacunae in the field and if Inspire does not give certain services, people cannot benefit from them anywhere else. The minister held a number of meetings with the foundation and a task force was set up to study the case in further detail.

Inspire was on this task force and together with government representatives, it considered the needs of children that were possibly not being met.

The task force concluded that the CDAU was already offering certain services and the government’s primary aim was to strengthen existing services and address the challenges the CDAU has.

One of these was the long waiting lists, as a result of staff shortages, and lack of other resources. One of the identified ways forward was to outsource occupational therapy services and Inspire has started to receive payment to give this service to 400 children.

Psychology services being given to some 50 children, were also tendered out, in a similar process according to established criteria. Meanwhile, the spokesperson continued, there could be children who are going to Inspire directly, rather than resorting to the CDAU, but the government always welcomes new service users.

Meanwhile, Inspire is asking the government for some €200,000 so that it can continue services it thinks are a must for its clients.

“The government cannot simply give money to organisations,” the spokesperson said. “Like Inspire, there are other organisations that work closely with the government, both in the field of disabled people, and others giving a service to cancer patients, for instance.”

The next step is for the government to continue evaluating what is necessary to address the needs of society. Further partnerships need to be established between the government and the private sector, and NGOs, but it sticks firmly to the contention that the government itself should determine the services to be given and prioritise where funds go and how these are to be channelled. Experts and authorities in the field decide what services are to be given, and from where.

This must always happen through transparent and fair tendering processes that must be prescriptive. The government is obliged to use money in the most just and correct manner to people and NGOs.

Meanwhile, the CDAU has employed a number of new professionals to improve its service. Two medical consultants have been engaged and one is specifically working on the needs of disabled children in the community. A nursing officer is also tasked with coordinating and organising services for children in the community.

Since more children are being diagnosed as a result of improved diagnostic systems, demand is increasing. Parents too are seeking assistance as a result of increased awareness.

The government also has a number of special schools. It is taking the approach of teaching children and their families to be empowered and take care of themselves.