Participatory approaches to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals: Malta: leaving no one behind: participatory development of policy on health services for transgender people

ABSTRACT

In 2018, Malta took concrete steps in the development of health services for transgender people. A high level of political commitment, the strong leadership of the Minister of Health and the adoption of a human rights-based, gender-responsive approach were important factors in the design and planning of these services, which led to the opening of the Gender Wellbeing Clinic in November 2018. The Clinic provides gender-affirmative health care services, tailored to the needs of the users by a multidisciplinary team, including an array of psychosocial and medical professionals. Malta’s health services policy for transgender people addresses Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).