Minister Reaffirms Universal Healthcare Access

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says even as Government pursues creative means of financing the public-health system, it remains committed to universal healthcare access.

Speaking at a post-sectoral debate press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister today (July 5), Dr. Tufton said the Government will be maintaining its ‘no user fee’ policy.

Meanwhile, he said the Government will immediately require that existing health insurance cardholders contribute to the cost of healthcare in the public-health system.

He said the Ministry has already met with insurance companies and is looking to standardise the procedure to administer the programme.

“The idea is that the (approximately) 23 per cent of the population with insurance cards will be required to contribute via that card, once they interface with the system, as part of the recalibration and restructuring of health financing,” the Minister said.

Cabinet recently approved the Charities Policy and Procedures Guidelines for Gifts and Donations, aimed at streamlining and simplifying the process of local and international donations to the Ministry and its agencies.

Dr. Tufton said this policy will be a basis for expanding the capacity of the Ministry, with increased personnel and greater levels of clarity to encourage persons interested in donating to do so. He said a needs assessment will also be done to highlight areas requiring support from charities.

He added that the Government will also be looking at a public-private partnership approach to improve financial support to the public-health system.

Dr. Tufton noted that the Government is currently completing a private-public partnership policy to standardise, in a transparent manner, the attraction of private capital to finance public healthcare “in a way that gives private capital the incentive, while also enhancing quality of provision for those who cannot afford it”.