Initiatives To Alleviate Health Sector Coming

INITIATIVES TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS FACING HEALTH SECTOR ...says PRIME MINISTER GOLDING

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, responding to questions of overcrowding at health facilities since the removal of user fees, says government has identified some strategically located clinics that should take some of the pressure off the hospitals. Government is also seeking to preserve as far as possible, the level of budgetary support for maintaining the infrastructure of health facilitates.  

According to Mr. Golding, "There has been some amount of erosion because of inflation but generally speaking we have sought to preserve the allocation and have augmented that with significant levels of expenditure through the National Health Fund".  

Speaking at the Gleaner editors forum yesterday (Aug 25). Mr. Golding addressed the problem of persons with insurance coverage who have been taking advantage of the services offered by public hospitals allowing their health insurers to get away free. "We're now putting in place an arrangement that will enable us to identify whether there is health insurance coverage, once the patient is registered. This will help us to recover funds from the health insurance to provide some income streams for the health services," the Prime Minister said.