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Gov't reiterates plan to have insured pay for 'free' health care
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer yesterday reiterated Government's plans to reverse aspects of the free health care policy introduced in 2007 when his Jamaica Labour Party took office.
Spencer said the review was recommended by Opposition spokesperson on health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, during a meeting yesterday morning, and that he has agreed to consider the move.
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer gesticulates during a press conference at his Kingston offices yesterday. Also pictured are Chief Medical Officer Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester (left), and Dr Jean Dixon, permanent secretary in the health ministry. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
"The opposition spokesperson agreed that the user fee policy had increased access to health care and has impacted positively on health-seeking behaviours. He asked specifically that we review the area of the user fees and he said that patients who can pay, should pay. He put it on the table today and I have decided to look at it," Spencer said yesterday at a press conference at his ministry in Kingston.
The health minister said he also intends to take to Cabinet, a proposal that would enable the Government to bill health insurance companies for the service that have been provided to their clients. At least one insurance company has so far agreed to participate in the move, he disclosed.
However, Minister Spencer declined to give a timeline for the implementation of the policy reverse, but said that he and Dr Ferguson are to meet again on the January 14, to further iron out aspects of
the proposal.
Quizzed on whether the problem of staff and other resource shortage were not acknowledged before the implementation of the policy, Spencer said "certain things would only have been realised after the policy was rolled out".
He added that the Government has identified cheaper source of drugs and that medication will be coming into the island at about $300 million cheaper, therefore enabling the government to purchase more at cheaper rates.
According to Spencer, $1.6 billion, including $500 million from the previous financial year, is owed to suppliers. Of that amount, he said, $700 million is owed for drugs and medical supplies.
"We have aged the bills and have decided on an approach that includes paying those bills that are owed for over 90 days first. This amounts to more than $600 million. We cannot pay all of it at the same time, but we have worked with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to prioritise the payments," he said.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...EALTH_CARE.asp
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer yesterday reiterated Government's plans to reverse aspects of the free health care policy introduced in 2007 when his Jamaica Labour Party took office.
Spencer said the review was recommended by Opposition spokesperson on health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, during a meeting yesterday morning, and that he has agreed to consider the move.
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer gesticulates during a press conference at his Kingston offices yesterday. Also pictured are Chief Medical Officer Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester (left), and Dr Jean Dixon, permanent secretary in the health ministry. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) "The opposition spokesperson agreed that the user fee policy had increased access to health care and has impacted positively on health-seeking behaviours. He asked specifically that we review the area of the user fees and he said that patients who can pay, should pay. He put it on the table today and I have decided to look at it," Spencer said yesterday at a press conference at his ministry in Kingston.
The health minister said he also intends to take to Cabinet, a proposal that would enable the Government to bill health insurance companies for the service that have been provided to their clients. At least one insurance company has so far agreed to participate in the move, he disclosed.
However, Minister Spencer declined to give a timeline for the implementation of the policy reverse, but said that he and Dr Ferguson are to meet again on the January 14, to further iron out aspects of
the proposal.
Quizzed on whether the problem of staff and other resource shortage were not acknowledged before the implementation of the policy, Spencer said "certain things would only have been realised after the policy was rolled out".
He added that the Government has identified cheaper source of drugs and that medication will be coming into the island at about $300 million cheaper, therefore enabling the government to purchase more at cheaper rates.
According to Spencer, $1.6 billion, including $500 million from the previous financial year, is owed to suppliers. Of that amount, he said, $700 million is owed for drugs and medical supplies.
"We have aged the bills and have decided on an approach that includes paying those bills that are owed for over 90 days first. This amounts to more than $600 million. We cannot pay all of it at the same time, but we have worked with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to prioritise the payments," he said.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...EALTH_CARE.asp
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