Health Minister vows to bring salary increases soon

Health Minister Vincent Wheatley has pledged to bring long-promised salary increases to employees at the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), saying government officials are now working through the financial and legislative changes needed to support the move. 

Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme recently, Wheatley acknowledged growing frustration among healthcare workers over pay and working conditions, particularly after more than a decade without salary increases.

During the discussion, hosts questioned why elected officials approved pension top-ups and salary increases for themselves several years ago while healthcare workers were left clamouring for increases.

“I’m not saying they don’t deserve it, the question is, where are we going to get it from?” he asked. “We have to figure out how we’re going to get the money generated in the system. It’s a complicated thing.” 

The wheels are in motion

The Health Minister acknowledged the prevailing scepticism; however, he assured listeners that the wheels were in motion to ensure healthcare workers receive their elusive salary increases.

“I do believe by August we should have some more to say, okay. ‘Effective this day, we can start putting that money there’ for the doctors and nurses,” Wheatley stated. “I know they don’t want me to say that because they have been promised this many times before. But I’m not only saying I’m going to do it, we are in the process.” 

The minister said the government received the salary review and job classification report on December 19, after the territory’s budget had already been passed. According to Wheatley, the report recommended salary increases amounting to roughly $10.3 million annually if fully implemented.

Losing good people

Wheatley pointed out that discussions are now taking place between the BVIHSA, National Health Insurance (NHI), Social Security and the Ministry of Finance to determine how the increases can be sustainably funded.

“We are losing good people,” Wheatley said. “Because they’re saying we love the BVI, we love what we do, we just can’t live on it.” 

Wheatley also defended the lengthy process, arguing that the government needed to conduct a proper classification exercise before implementing raises.

The minister also pointed to wider reforms underway within the healthcare system, including infrastructure upgrades at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital, legislative changes involving the NHI and Social Security systems, and efforts to improve preventative healthcare.

“I am fully committed to making sure this happens,” Wheatley said. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure when I go to the hospital Christmas Day, that annual Christmas Day programme, everybody is smiling at me.”