Medical bills up

COME JULY 1, Barbadians will be paying more for private medical care.
On that date, Bayview Hospital’s increased rates for rooms and operating theatres come into effect; the Queen Elizabeth Hospital expects to charge more for non-surgical services, and doctors’ fees may be going up as well.
At Bayview, Barbadians and local residents will have to pay 15 per cent more, while the increase for Caricom residents will be 23.75 per cent.
All others will pay double the Barbadian rates.
The changes will see the existing daily rate for a private room, for example, move from $700 to $805 for locals, $875 for Caricom citizens, and US$805 for extra-regional citizens. Normal baby delivery rates using a private room will move from $3 300 to $3 795 for locals, $4 125 for Caricom nationals, and US$3 795 for extra-regional women.