Ministers bypass GPHC, local medical facilities

…to seek medical treatment in Ireland

When in the Opposition, members of the coalition parties now in Government had criticised members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for seeking medical treatment overseas, instead of utilising the national facilities. However, Government ministers have been flying to Ireland to obtain medical treatment.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, disclosed during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday that “Ministers have sought permission to travel to Ireland for medical treatment; and, so far, those bills are dealt with by the Ministers themselves.”

The Minister of State was at the time responding to questions by the local media about a situation in which ministers go to Ireland to seek medical attention when the public health system has been touted by Government as better equipped than in previous years.

Harmon affirmed that the ministers were seeking “the best” treatment possible, hence their decision to go to Ireland instead of the Caribbean or North America. He, however, did not give the names of the ministers.

Meanwhile, there are also plans to have a medical insurance policy set up for ministers of Government. According to Harmon, the coalition Government and an insurance company have been in negotiation in regard to the establishment of a medical insurance policy that would take care of those matters in the future.

“In the opinion of the ministers who have gone, that is where they can get the best treatment for whatever the ailment,” he said. “But (these) are expenses borne by them; and later on, when the insurance policy kicks in, then the insurance policy will deal with these matters.”

The idea of having an insurance policy to cater to the medical needs of ministers was initiated by the PPP while in office. It was touted in response to criticisms of the practice that had then obtained.