Healthcare one of our biggest priorities — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said healthcare is one of his government’s most significant priorities despite the challenges plaguing his administration.
His remarks come amid mounting concerns over healthcare services in the territory and accusations of wasteful government spending on a Vybz Kartel concert.
In an interview with Cathy Richards on JTV, Premier Wheatley commented on an emotional community meeting in Virgin Gorda following a tragic incident where a resident could not access the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic.
Dr Wheatley acknowledged the frustration expressed by residents about the lack of healthcare facilities and emergency services, particularly in Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. He confirmed that his administration is dedicated to addressing these concerns.
“We take the health of the citizens of the territory very seriously. It’s one of our biggest priorities in government,” Premier Wheatley stressed.
Premier Wheatley highlighted that while healthcare is a global challenge, the local system faces its own problems, including a high incidence of non-communicable diseases and inadequate funding for public health institutions. He explained that although commendable efforts were made to introduce a National Health Insurance (NHI) system, it has not been enough to address the growing demands of the public health sector.
“The NHI scheme is not adequate to help us fund our public healthcare system. Right now, the primary beneficiaries of the NHI would be private clinics, and I don’t think that was our intention when we built that massive hospital,” Dr Wheatley said. He added that serious decisions need to be made to ensure that healthcare funding is sufficient to meet the needs of the territory’s population.
Virgin Gorda not overlooked
In addressing the concerns of Virgin Gorda and Anegada residents, who felt overlooked in favour of other projects like the commissioning of a marine vessel, Premier Wheatley assured them that healthcare improvements were being pursued. He stated that discussions are ongoing regarding acquiring appropriate medical evacuation options, noting that rough seas have made relying solely on sea vessels difficult.
In addition, the Premier defended his administration’s spending, particularly in response to criticisms that money allocated for the Vybz Kartel concert could have been better spent on healthcare. He explained that while sectors like education and healthcare require funding, they do not generate revenue directly. Instead, the government must rely on tourism and financial services to fund these essential areas.
“The challenge is [that] persons don’t recognise and have not acknowledged entertainment tourism as a valid form of tourism. We know how tourism works,” Premier Wheatley said, emphasising the indirect benefits of tourism to the wider economy.
He further explained that events like the Vybz Kartel concert stimulate private businesses such as taxis and hotels, and the government benefits through taxes and fees.
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When Government was told the population wasn’t big enough to support this scheme by all government commissioned investigators , you ignored everyone to produce a get rich quick scheme for the few , now your acting surprised!
Ok the Trinidadian adviser has ask him to speak to the people concerns since a vote of no confidence is in the making, but that’s just political rhetorical about addressing health care, Wheatley will continue to fund Kartel and other parties and fly nonstop, if he had a scintiller of feeling for BVI tax money he do pull back the quarter million USD he gave Kartel to build a fabulous mansion in the upscale area of Jamaica, Wheatley personally communicated with Kartel telling him he was a rapper and showed solidarity as musicians by giving him BVI tax money. I bet you HLSC orchestra couldn’t get that money there, since he wasn’t born on the BVI, Wheatley live foreign things, and travel, the BVI could rot
Don’t worry Premier, Medical School up and running, you will soon have more home grown doctors than you can cope with.
Does not seem to be healthcare but the Vybz Kartel!
How about prosecuting employers who deduct NHI payments from their staff but do not pay them into NHI?
You all know who they are but they allowed to get away with it.
Is his sudden interest in healthcare because the VG committee solicited assistance from the Governor?
Boi stop yuh chupidness wid dem bold faces lies!! If you don’t believe the words falling out your mouth how can you expect the public to buy your nonsense?
$220k for Kartel
$1,000,000 for failed music fete
Money for Healthcare- $0
GYMS!
Make the service more attractive financially for people to want to enter the field
Yo yo , Health care is priority? a joke my friend,First remove those long standing administrators them , who sabotaged organization
Dr. Hon Premier Natalio Wheatley, D-7, MoF, indeed healthcare should not but be the #1 national issue. it is a top priority, , top quality of life, standards of living human development index, etc. which must be addressed more with action, not just sounding words. The NHI system needs to be revamped. The government cannot have private medical providers exploiting the system charging whatever they want. That is organize chaos, madness. There should have been a fee structure for specific services for providers who want to participate in the program. A famous American said, “ show me your budget shows me the seriousness about your priorities.” Inarguably, insurance is the sharing of risk and driven by large numbers. With small numbers such the BVI, it will be challenging. Nevertheless, it must be managed in a way to deliver the best/most services to the most people. Residents of the BVI should affordable access to quality healthcare services. A healthy nation is a progressing nation.
If Healthcare really is the top priority then why have we had no medical council or allied health council in place for months now. Without these boards no medical professionals can be approved to work in the country hence creating essential skills shortages.
The fact that this has not been resolved despite persons being willing to hold the positions does not suggest that healthcare is a priority.