BVIHSA to get money management support from financial expert
Minister of Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley has announced plans to bring in a finance expert to address challenges faced by the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA).
During recent Standing Finance Committee proceedings, the BVIHSA requested additional funding to sustain operations. However, speaking later in the House of Assembly, Minister Wheatley outlined his solution to aid the Authority, emphasising the importance of proper financial management.
“We’re going to bring in a financial expert in medical to help us navigate the situation we’re in,” Wheatley stated. He warned that without effective intervention, the BVIHSA’s expenses would escalate uncontrollably. “Because it’ll be $20 million this year but $40 million next year, we’ll always find more things to spend more money on,” he added.
The Health Minister’s announcement follows news from Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley that his administration will write off nearly $20 million owed by the BVIHSA to the government. The Premier highlighted that this measure aims to strengthen the Authority’s financial health and enhance its capacity to deliver better healthcare services.
“[We will forgive] about 90% of that debt is owed to the government, primarily through unpaid taxes,” Dr. Wheatley explained during the budget debate in the House of Assembly. He underscored the need for financial relief to address the BVIHSA’s challenges, which have been compounded by mounting debts.
Concerns about healthcare services have also been raised by the public, particularly residents of the sister islands, including Virgin Gorda, who have called for urgent improvements. The planned financial measures are expected to improve the Authority’s standing and ensure more efficient delivery of healthcare services across the territory.
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If BVIHSA was to be ran like a business, that would have done been bankrupt long time ago. While other medical services faculties are make crazy profits. Its very obvious to us (the people) that something is wrong with the structure of either NHI, BVIHSA or private medical facilities amd it isnt the private.
Correct! A society of 40,000 of which about 25,000 might be tax payers cannot support a comprehensive national health service system to provide affordable care unless they are willing to pay more in taxes. There is also the issue that small systems are much more sensitive to cost fluctuations, and there would have to be universal support for it such that people choose NHI before they choose private health care. That means that the tax payers have to trust the health care providers the system hires. It does not help that BVI medical wages are low, so many don’t stay for long.
Nothing is wrong with HSA except that WE THE PEOPLE are the issue! We need a proven professional at the helm of HSA not just locals with medical degrees pretending when they know zero about management. They are all making major salaries and doing the bare minimum. They have no real mandate to do better so they just sail along as usual. The private sector is built for profitability, the public sector is not and therein lies the issue.
A financial expert will not solve the problems. We have already consulted with several and until we are willing to following recommendations, we will still be in the same spot.
The majors issues surrounding funding lies with payment of bills. To many feel the should not pay for services and some go as far as providing false identification to the hospital. Some even return bills claiming it’s not their and never use the services. ( famous VG people).
The next is placing them as a Statutory Board. Despite being given a tried and proven blue print, the then minister put that aside a introduce one he felt was good and would give him credit. Look how that has turn out. Same thing he did with NHI.
Finally, NHI. Where do I start with this one. Just going to say if needs a serious over hauling. If this is the only funding for the healthcare system, then we definite have problems. Again where is the deposit that the hospital should have gotten. This should have been done from the beginning. This way the always have a reserve and employees and vendors would of be paid late.
you talking too much sense for the bvi
But it will take the will of the people. healthcare is a complex issue and people with an agenda can easily misguide the public and what happens so the root cause is never addressed. The same happened with Obana care in the US the communication was poor and many were misguided about the benefits and issues, After people actually used it and saw the benefits the realized that it was just a campaign to discredit it. Now a recall/repeal is off the Republican agenda completely. Ironically the original Obamacare came from a Rebublican think tank the Heritage foundation. I only mention this to demonstrate how easily people are mislead.
Its not rocket science. Hire a CEO and management team and appoint a competent Board of Directors
Built up by private practices using government facilities written off now they’ve built new private clinics off the back of the NHI tax payers .
Meant to say the reserve would avoid employees and vendors getting paid late. Sorry for any inconvenience.
“[We will forgive] about 90% of that debt is owed to the government, primarily through unpaid taxes,”
We the people did not vote on this gift of 20 million dollars of taxpayers money! Especially since we just had to borrow 100 million to conduct maintenance.
Who is in charge of this?
And when will he be fired?
60 beds, 800 employees, creating another job for finance management,All the best
Premiere Wheatley need money management expert to supervise him.