NOT EVERYONE who “steps off a plane, boat or sneaks in” has a right to free health care in Barbados, says Minister of Health Donville Inniss.
“There are some people in this society who feel that every individual who steps off of an aircraft at Grantley Adams International Airport, every individual who steps off of boats at the Deep Water Harbour or everyone who sneaks in here under cover of darkness is entitled to free health care, but this is not true,” Inniss said.
Inniss, speaking to the media yesterday during a break in a Pan American Health Organisation/Caribbean Epidemiology Centre Emergency Vector Control workshop at Grand Barbados Beach Resort, Aquatic Gap, St Michael, said he had received calls and people had raised concerns but “the law is the law”.
“Only citizens and permanent residents of Barbados are entitled to free health care and I have made a commitment to rein in the spiralling cost of the Barbados Drug Service. I intend to stick to that.
“There has been too much wastage and abuse in the system, but I am satisfied Barbados’ health care costs can be controlled – without compromising on the delivery of health care – by enforcing and adhering to clear policy guidelines,” he said.
Inniss also chided Barbadians who he said lived overseas yet still managed to get free medication from Barbados.
“There are also individuals who do not reside in Barbados . . . who do not even visit, but find ways of getting medication free of cost. We cannot have this continue [because it would] continue to put additional burden on taxpayers.
“I am satisfied we are spending thousands of dollars per week providing health care free of cost to individuals who do not qualify for it.
“Therefore the Ministry of Health has directed both public and private pharmacies in Barbados that those who come to collect medication to be dispensed free of cost on the drug formulary programme will have to present appropriate identification or proof of permanent residence,” he said.
Inniss said it could no longer be a case of a person walking in and saying “I am John Brown or Jane Doe, give me my medication”, and advised anyone unwilling to conform to these rules to simply not participate in the programme and to get a health insurance policy. (CA)
