Maintaining a high level of health care and improving the administration of health care in Malta are the main challenges in this sector, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, Dr Sant said the principle of value for money had to be applied throughout the sector.

He insisted that health care should still be provided free of charge and something had to be done to solve serious problems such as long waiting lists, and the high cost of, and the shortage of, medicines.

The Labour Party quoted UHM secretary general Gejtu Vella as saying that continuity was important in this sector and that partisan politics should not be allowed to affect the service.

Mr Vella said the public was spending a lot of money and therefore this money had to be used effectively. Hence, Mr Vella said, the need for more coordination between the government, the opposition and stakeholders.