More than $700M on health care

BARBADOS SPENT $732 424 694 on health care between 2012 and 2013.

This was revealed yesterday by Chief Health Planner, Samuel Deane when he unveiled the results to the first ever compilation of Barbados’ National Health Accounts at a Dissemination Workshop, held at the Savannah Hotel today.

A breakdown showed that the recurring spending was $716 470 726; capital spending was $15 547 529; health-care related spending ,e.g. environmental health, was $406 439.

The results showed that government and households were the two biggest spenders for health with government financing 55.5 per cent and households 39 per cent.

In terms of allocation among treatment, prevention and other activities, the study revealed that health spending was predominantly on curative care (treatment).

In addition at least 23 per cent of institutional health spending was for the five key non-communicable diseases in Barbados with cancer receiving 13 per cent; HIV/AIDS three per cent, hypertension two per cent; diabetes and cardiovascular three per cent and mental disorders six per cent.

Deane said this information was critical as he expressed hope that it would be an annual exercise. (MB)