Government has promised a set of policies to ensure the removal of trans fatty acids from food over the next two years.

Minister of Health Senator Dr The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott said this necessary Government intervention is part of the administration’s attack on incidences of non-communicable diseases.

“Barbados has identified this challenge and is looking to ensure that policies to remove industrially-produced trans fatty acids from the food system are in place by December 2024,” he told the opening day of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) high-level technical meeting on Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health, organised by the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation. 

Walcott, the keynote speaker at the event which was held on the premises of the Hilton Barbados Resort, said it was important to adjust the local food system as NCDs and mental health challenges undermined and eroded the development gains of developing states since ill health and disease were high economic burdens.

The minister told the session that the private sector had a major role to play in incidences of NCDs in small islands such as Barbados and it is important that Governments intervened where possible.

“Commercial determinants of health and trade are also important drivers of NCDs in SIDS. Commercial determinants of health [can be] defined as the private sector activities that affect people’s health positively or negatively,” Walcott said.

“Commercial determinants of health . . . can exercise broad influence on the economic, physical, social and cultural environments in which people live. In fact, through their influence on food prices, availability and advertising, trade agreements and policies, they have accelerated the nutritional shift away from traditional diets resulting in increased levels of obesity, food insecurity and NCDs,” Walcott said.

“Sometimes, due to the size and nature of the commercial actors involved, governments in SIDS face impossible odds in securing regulatory protection to improve health. This is particularly true where government resources and budgets may be dwarfed by the size and scale of multinational companies, state-owned enterprises and foreign commercial actors . . . With health, it is imperative to examine the role of commercial actors.

“Understanding these commercial determinants of health, the power balances inherent within them, and the critical role of global governance is an important step in supporting SIDS to improve health outcomes. Food labelling, taxes on unhealthy foods, campaigns to limit the amount of sugar in drinks, and food chain incentives are just some of the regional initiatives that Caribbean SIDS have launched to combat NCDs.”

The health minister said the disruptions in the health system during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the impact of these issues and underscored the importance of having multisectoral approaches to address such matters.

During the event, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness with Responsibility for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Sonia Browne said NCDs had a significant impact on the mortality rate of small states such as Barbados. She suggested that the conference would help build political momentum and influence domestic action on NCDs and mental health among SIDs.

She explained that the robust discussions and ideas during the event will help to create a document of key recommendations which would be used during a SIDS ministerial conference on the prevention and control of NCDs and mental health in June. (SZB)

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Wait times at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) are still too long, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has complained.

The party’s spokesperson on health Paul Gibson lamented that people were waiting in excess of two days to be seen by a doctor, even though millions of dollars had been spent on refurbishing the A&E Department.

“We have a situation in Barbados where it is now taking between 48 and 49 hours in our A&E to be seen. Now, there is something called an accident and there is something called an emergency and it is no longer an accident or an emergency when 24 hours have passed, and this is something that we have to be very mindful of,” he said during a press conference at the DLP George Street headquarters on Friday.

“You have a lot of 85-year-olds and 75-year-olds sitting in a waiting room, sometimes falling and collapsing on the ground in the A&E Department waiting to be seen by a doctor, and there is a reason why it is happening.”

Gibson said the Government had not delivered on its promise to fully renovate the department, as the old A&E section remained incomplete.

He said the Government needed to prioritise finishing the project.

“The Government is finding money to build a Golden Square, they are finding money to build a Heroes’ Park, but you mean they can’t find money to build or repair the second part of the A&E Department? It is heartbreaking that Government can find money to fly and stay in luxurious hotels in Egypt, in South Africa and carry a large 24-person contingent to these functions and spend large sums of money and can’t find enough money to fix something as fundamental as a hospital,” Gibson contended.

Also speaking at the press conference was the DLP’s spokesperson on education, Melissa Savoury who described the performance of Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney as lacklustre.

She questioned why the 2023 National Grooming Policy was released the day before the start of the new school term, and without alerting teachers.

“Why did we wait until the night before school starts to send off something like that when parents would have already prepped their children, parents would have already taken their sons to the barber to get their hair cut?

“I agree that a new policy is needed and necessary given the diversity of our society … but it is understood that, as usual, our teachers were left in the dark to only find out like everybody else about these new grooming policies. Once again, the ministry continues to show a lack of respect to our teachers, a lack of respect to our parents and a lack of respect in general,” Savoury said.

She said another area of concern is teachers and principals acting in posts, noting that 10 principals and 18 acting deputy principals are currently acting in their positions. (RB)

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Thousands of Barbadian men as young as 40 have a specific DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule gene that predisposes them to the development of prostate cancer.

This major discovery came out of a recent trial undertaken by the Barbados Cancer Society in conjunction with top researchers from the United States.

The presence of the molecule is most common in families and is considered a genetic disease, the study determined.

Some 565 over-40 men consented to the trial which started in April 2020 and ended in April 2022. From that testing, it was determined that 76 of the participants would develop prostate cancer in the future.

This was disclosed by the society’s president Professor R. David Rosin during a press conference held on Tuesday at the headquarters on Lower Collymore Rock, St Michael.

He said the trial was conducted with the support of Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Yale University Irvin Modlin and Laboratory and Scientific Director at Wren Laboratories Mark Kidd. It was the largest trial in the world for screening prostate cancer in men of African descent using genomics.

Rosin explained that genomics is a relatively new approach to discovering diseases using specific findings in the blood and saliva.

“Prostatic cancer has the highest cancer numbers in Barbados. It’s number one. One hundred and fifteen men a year die from the disease and 320 men, in the last statistics in 2018, actually get the disease,” he said. “Prostate cancer is usually a slow growing cancer in men over the age of 65 with a low death rate compared to most other cancers, however, in men of African descent it occurs in younger men and tends to be more aggressive.”

Rosin said that by using genomics, men could now learn if they are predisposed to prostate cancer even before the cancer presents itself in the body.

“The trial has shown that men as young as 40 can be carrying this molecule signature, almost always because their father or their grandfather, close relatives, have suffered from the disease . . . It is most common in families and is a genetic disease. We have shown that men who have a positive PROSTest, the molecule signature, have a normal PSA (prostate-specific antigen), no symptoms, no signs and [no] readings on the screens.

“So we are finding people who are carrying this gene and who we know will ultimately develop prostate cancer.”

The cancer society head noted that generally, men 60 and over are usually screened for prostate cancer and the society accepts men 50 and over.

However, he said that based on the findings of the research, men as young as 40 should get screened.

“I think this trial has proved that we are going to have to lower the bar and start screening people from the age of 40.”

Given that the number of men with prostate cancer is increasing every ten years, Rosin called on males to get tested.

“We should be alarmed that it is too strong and I think we should be vigilant as to how we are going to investigate and treat these men. Screening of all cancers is the way forward…

“We should be screening people to ensure that we find the disease as early as possible. That is going to decrease the mortality and morbidity because of less aggressive treatment.”

While those in the trial were tested free of cost, the price tag on the DNA molecule test is US$500.

Rosin said any males wanting to get the test done could visit the society, pay the required sum and the organisation would facilitate it. The tests are only conducted at Wren Laboratories.

Rosin told the press conference, the society would soon be carrying out another trial for colon cancer, which will test 600 volunteers.

Colon cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in Barbados and it affects both men and women.

The third most prevalent cancer is breast cancer.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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By Anesta Henry

Executive Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland has given the assurance that even though a cyber security incident affected a number of the hospital’s services on Tuesday, swift measures were implemented to protect patient privacy.

Bynoe-Sutherland said the disruption caused the suspension of all internet-dependent services which she described as extensive.

“The IT [Information Technology] experts have taken all precautions to protect the integrity of our system and the privacy of all of our patients. We do apologise for the inconvenience that may be experienced by all of our users, but rest assured we will continue to keep the public informed as we seek to restore services here at the hospital,” Bynoe-Sutherland said.

MIST (Ministry of Industry, Innovation Science and Technology) and cyber security specialists have been working with the QEH’s IT department to rectify the issue. 

In addition to the temporary precautions being taken to protect the integrity of systems and patient privacy, the hospital chief indicated that the Ambulance Service continues to function as normal, the Blood Collecting Centre continues to welcome blood donations. Members seeking further information have been encouraged to contact the Patient Liason Service (Help Desk), at 536-4800.

The Executive Chairman told Barbados TODAY she could not say exactly when the matter will be resolved. 

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Health authorities are warning Barbadians to be extra cautious during the busy Christmas season amid a double whammy of a lingering COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in another death in recent days, and a highly infectious flu virus.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Kenneth George said in a recorded statement on Monday that both viruses were presenting some challenges, as he noted that the true extent of COVID-19 cases may not be known since testing has declined.

He disclosed that just below 20 per cent of COVID-19 tests performed were positive while the RE – the number of people in a population who can be infected by a COVID-19-positive individual at any specific time – was above one.

“And those two metrics together indicate that we are still having COVID spread in our communities. In addition, what we also note is that the number of persons coming to be tested has fallen off and, therefore, the number of persons having COVID in our communities may not be a true reflection of what it really is,” Dr George cautioned, as he urged the most vulnerable groups to “go the extra mile” to protect their health.

“And, therefore, I ask that you be cautious around the Christmas period.”

The CMO noted that while the hospitalisation rate has remained low, and those who were hospitalised were having milder forms of illness, “we, unfortunately, within the last seven days have had a single death”.

“We continue to monitor hospitalisation and deaths as a metric to determine how severe the infections are,” the Government’s chief medical advisor said.

“We are indeed facing a double whammy because we have COVID circulating and we also have flu circulating. The flu virus has been typed – it is H3N2 that has been circulating and that has also increased steeply within the last two months. We continue to monitor both for flu and for COVID…. Fortunately…we have not had any hospitalisation or deaths associated with the flu virus,” Dr George added.

He said the Health Ministry would continue to examine the information and report to the public any changes in that trajectory.

“But it is important to note that the flu in some countries does cause significant sickness and even death. The good thing is that there are similar ways to prevent COVID as you can prevent flu,” Dr George pointed out.

“The viruses circulating are certainly not as deadly or causing severe illness as when we were in the throes of Delta. The virus circulating is very infectious, so the likelihood of transmission is high but the outcomes appear to be a bit better.”

The CMO assured the public that the Ministry had not taken its eye off COVID-19.

“We don’t come to the public as often as before, but we continue to run the EOC [Emergency Operations Centre], [and] have several systems in place in the background to make sure that the national response continues,” he assured.

However, Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer and former head of the now defunct COVID-19 Monitoring Unit, Ronald Chapman promised Barbadians that the Government would not go back to the tight restrictions that were imposed at the height of the pandemic.

“The Ministry of Health has no intention at this present time to return to the heavy-handed approach that we had during COVID. You can see that with the relaxation of the protocols and also with the dissolution of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit. So, we are at a place where we believe that persons can act responsibly, that persons can take stock of their own risks, they can look and see how they can protect themselves as opposed to having persons police every movement that they make,” he said.

“That was important during the period of time because we knew very little about the disease and we had a lot of hospitalisations and we were dealing with highly infectious strains at that point in time. Now we have a better handle on it and it is time that we get a return to some sense of normalcy.”

He encouraged Barbadians to protect themselves from both COVID-19 and the flu.

“As international travel ramps around this time of the year, it is extremely important that we pay attention to our preventive measures which are mask-wearing, which is still probably the best if not the best method of preventing the spread of respiratory illness; continue to ensure your hand hygiene is up to scratch, and if you are not able to wash your hands still use your hand sanitisers,” Chapman stressed.

“The whole idea of physical distancing, those things are still important. However, we recognise that there has been a relaxation in the directives, and because of that relaxation, we expect persons to take responsibility for themselves…. If you are not feeling well, it is wise to put on a mask. You may not have COVID, you may be suffering from the flu, or maybe just a common cold, but all respiratory diseases can be fought by the use of masks,” he suggested.

Data released by the Ministry of Health on Monday showed that the country recorded 528 new COVID-19 cases between November 26 and December 9, this year.

Altogether, 104 944 people contracted the disease since it was discovered here on March 17, 2020, and 568 of those died.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Bajan men continue to be disproportionately represented in HIV and AIDS statistics. So much so, that Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey is expressing the hope that these, in addition to the overall numbers for testing, will increase over the next few years.

According to Humphrey, this is going to be essential as the country continues its fight to eradicate the virus.

The minister’s comments were made during an HIV/AIDS service at the Church of the Nazarene in Bank Hall, St Michael, this morning. Speaking to the congregation made up of members from the National HIV/AIDS Commission, he noted that beyond prayer there has to be a conversation around prevention and it must be age and culturally appropriate if it is going to make sense and reach the ears of the targeted.

“… A way that does not turn off people because then it becomes about ourselves. We said what we said and we don’t care what you think — no. If it is about the people we are serving it has to be in a way that they can receive it,” he added.

According to statistics, the number of known HIV/AIDS cases stood at 2 493 in 2020. Acknowledging that during the COVID-19 pandemic figures for other scourges such as child abuse and intimate partner violence increased, the minister concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS may have also increased given the realities of society. This is why Humphrey also contended that part of the conversation has to be about early detection and prolonging life, which has been aided by the use of antiretroviral therapy.

“He added: “The doctors would tell you that we haven’t found a way to stop HIV from becoming AIDS but we’ve found a way to reduce the possibility of it happening if you take the medication. The virus, if left untreated, would probably lead to AIDS. That is why we have to make sure that medication is available to all and the theme Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV symbolizes the idea that all must be able to have access in this country. It means persons with disability, the older population, those who are poor, any particular group … We have to make sure to find a way where all persons have access and people are treated in a way that they could be respected at the end of the day.”

Additionally, Humphrey implored the church’s partnership in the fight. He stated that the Government cannot do it alone.

“It is not over yet. Not talking about it does not mean it is over and I commend all who have been doing this work for so long and I trust that together we can continue to serve those who need our help,” Humphrey stressed. (KC)

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Nine months after a promise that they would once more get a Government stipend to ease the financial burden of full time study, student nurses are yet to receive the money.

And the Barbados Nurses’ Association (BNA), management of the Barbados Community College (BCC) and student nurses themselves are hoping that the current administration will make good on its promise.

Last February, Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill announced that Government would re-introduce the stipend some eight years after it was stopped and at a cost to taxpayers of $2 million annually.

On Monday following a scholarship award ceremony at the college, members of the nursing community renewed the call for the financial help.

“Since 2017, we have been advocating as the Barbados Nurses’ Association for the stipend to recommence to nursing students so that it could assist them with their studies. Leaving school and coming to study is hard; they have to travel to different health institutions as part of their studies.

“Also, the books and the materials that you have to acquire when you want to be a nurse are not cheap. We were told that it would be reinstated so we are waiting for the stipend to be reinstated to the nursing students of all years,”said president of the BNA Valerie Francis-Miller.

Deputy principal of BCC Dr Cheryl Weekes said the campus had already submitted the necessary information to start the process.

She too conceded that it was difficult being a student nurse since the financial requirements of the study could put strain on them.

“What I can say from the college’s standpoint is that the ministry has indeed been in touch with us and we have provided the necessary information in terms of the names of the students and the information they require in order to process the stipend. We are thankful that this is going to be reinstated because we know that it will go a long way to help the students in their profession reaching that level,” she said.

“Being a student and studying nursing is very difficult. It is not an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. kind of study programme in the sense that the students have to do clinicals and those clinicals can run till 9 p.m. because they try to work to shifts.

“It is difficult for a student to be here full time going into the clinical area and then working another job unable to sustain themselves.”

In February, Gooding-Edghill said in a press statement that first-year nursing students would be paid a stipend of $458.89 per month; second-years $578.53; third-years $698.16 and fourth-years $798.16.

To maintain the stipend, the nursing students would be required to maintain passing grades for all courses according to the criteria set by the BCC. They would also be placed on a two-year Government performance bond after completion of their four-year nursing degree.

The minister said he hoped the stipend would take pressure off the students and their families and lead to an increase in the number of nurses.

Weekes said that the stipend could encourage more people to study nursing especially in light of the on-going nursing shortage.

“It would be an incentive also, for more persons to join the profession to join the training, at least because they know that the challenges of not having the finances would be alleviated to a certain extent . . .  So this is coming at an opportune time when we know that we have a shortage of nurses. Having an incentive will encourage more persons, younger persons, to pursue nursing as a career.”

Francis-Miller said nurses also needed more incentives in the form of educational and career development opportunities.

“Migration is something that has been happening in Barbados for years. It has not just started. Nurses are continuing to migrate and we have, as a nurses’ association, been asking and advocating for incentives to help keep our nurses here. We would like some more incentives.”

Second year student nurse Aldaro Blackman agreed that the programme was financially difficult especially when travel costs and book and equipment expenses are factored in.

He said: “Nursing as a major is very expensive.”

There are close to 400 student nurses training at BCC.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in collaboration with the Cancer Support Services is intensifying its cancer treatment services to embrace a more patient-centered model.

On Friday during the signing of another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two entities at the Martindale’s Road, St Michael facility, executive chairman of the QEH Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland said it was important that the hospital adjusted its approach to palliative care because of the emotional trauma and fear cancer could evoke.

She added that having a more patient-focused approach helped to create an environment where cancer patients would see that there was life beyond their diagnosis.

“Cancer evokes a tremendous amount of fear and emotional response. Some people don’t even want to call the word but what research shows and the Cancer Support Services has been able to demonstrate is that cancer diagnosis does not have to mean the end of the road. There are many people in Barbados who are living with cancer. who are coping… and meeting with others who are also going through these experiences,” she said.

“Understanding what it means to face this diagnosis has really enriched the whole arena of addressing cancer. There have been many people who have been able to live with a cancer diagnosis. What we are here doing at the hospital, we are working on the two spectrums – ensuring that we could provide treatment care and support for those who have a diagnosis . . . making sure they can live with the diagnosis and thrive.

“We are also, on the other end of things, recognising palliative care is also an important part, how we die and how we support persons as they transition is as important as how we bring them into this world.

“As an institution, we have a duty to make sure that we are providing the best quality services across the spectrum from birth through to the end of life and this is what our partnership with this organisation allows us to do.”

Director of Nursing Services Henderson Pinder said the QEH had trained about 80 medical practitioners in its palliative care enrichment programme. He made a case for the course to be conducted two or three times per year instead of once.

“Our palliative care enrichment programme has been one of the most successful ventures we have had with the Cancer Support Services. This programme enables healthcare workers – doctors, nurses and other support persons – to gain a new perspective of the care that they give.

“It gives them an opportunity to look at the care from the caregiver’s side and also from the patient’s side. It helps them to be able to see some of the sensitivities that they themselves have about cancer, about dying, about going through the process of end of life,” he said. “Medical persons who have been through this course, have reported that they have begun to be more sensitive to the needs of the patient and the families and putting them at the front of the care process.”

Bynoe-Sutherland added that the QEH has increased its provision of medical drugs and amalgamated the hematology oncology and nuclear medicine departments to allow for better synergy to attend to patients with cancer.

Executive director of Cancer Support Services Janette Lynton expressed pride at the work of both entities and said she wanted to strengthen her organisation’s relationship with the children on C7 and C8.

According to her, the doctors on those wards wanted more representatives from the Cancer Support Services to give parents with children who have been diagnosed with cancer more support. (SZB)

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Building upon the Caribbean’s innovative and successful partnership between tourism and health, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has launched the first CARICOM (Caribbean Community)-approved health safety and environmental sanitation (HSE) hospitality standards to improve health, safety, and environmental quality in the regional hospitality sector, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The standards – which include Food Safety and Sanitation; Energy Management; Water Treatment and Management; Sewage Treatment and Management; Solid Waste Management; Integrated Pest Management; and Environmental Management Systems – were unveiled by CARPHA at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort in Tobago on Monday, November 14, with the support of senior officials of the Tobago government, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

Dr Joy St John, CARPHA’s Executive Director, who earlier this year signed an agreement with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) to further develop the standards, said these seven regional clean and green standards are a key component for providing assurance to travelers about company commitment to health and safety and towards avoiding or mitigating health threats to the Caribbean tourism product.

Each of the standards is equipped with an assessment checklist to easily guide the industry through a process of recognizing and achieving the standards. Upon completion, after verification by CARPHA, the company will be eligible to receive CARPHA’s Tourism Health Program (THP) Healthier, Safer Tourism Award.

“There is now a verifiable way of having the suite of standards act as a crucial tool for establishing the quality of Caribbean tourism,” Dr St John stated.

Health and tourism professionals throughout the Caribbean have placed a high priority on the well-being and health and safety of the industry’s employees and travelers. Through the intervention of a unique partnership with CTO and CHTA, established by CARPHA in 2014, the Caribbean was well positioned to respond strategically during the pandemic and now during its recovery.

In 2020 and 2021, CARPHA also trained 7,000 hospitality professionals in preventing and controlling COVID-19 in the tourism sector. This contributed to the Caribbean tourism product’s ability to rebound quickly after the end of the “lockdown” phase of the pandemic.

The standards are currently voluntary and certified properties that meet all seven standards will be eligible for a platinum distinction.

Dr Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Director of the Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control Division – who recently facilitated THP stakeholder training in preparation for the Tobago carnival last month – was congratulated by senior officials for her leadership and commitment to the process of standards development since 2018.

Dr Faith B Yisrael, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary for Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Tobago House of Assembly, congratulated CARPHA and its partners for developing the standards. She encouraged tourism stakeholders to utilize them and not leave them on shelves gathering dust: “If we pull together and if we actually follow these robust standards … we would all really truly survive whatever is to come next.”

Councillor Tashia Burris, Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Tobago House of Assembly, said the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that having robust policies, standards and regulations can help save lives and livelihoods.

Neil Walters, Acting CTO Secretary General, believes the standards are another incremental step towards ensuring the future of the region’s tourism sector: “I believe we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable, world-class, regional tourism sector as this very important sector moves forward in its recovery.”

Frank Comito, Special Advisor to CHTA, which has supported the health and safety awards program from its inception, noted that the standards can uplift the tourism industry’s continued commitment to the health and safety of its employees and visitors, “which can help us to deliver our promise to the world and there is no better place for mental, physical and spiritual well-being than in the Caribbean.” (PR)

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Barbados needs a sustainable healthcare financing plan, given the significant issues plaguing the sector, says Minister of Health, Senator The Most Honourable Dr Jerome Walcott.

And that plan, he said on Tuesday, could potentially result in the Government broadening the tax system from which healthcare is partially funded.

He made the disclosure on day one of the four-day International Review of Health Financing Reform Options in Barbados at the Hilton Hotel.

During the event, hosted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the Pan American Health Organisation, Minister Walcott said the island’s healthcare system was under strain and there was a need for a sustainable reformative framework.

“ . . . Several challenges still remain. These include an ageing population, with over 13 per cent above the age of 65, an increasing presence of non-communicable diseases, the occurrence of new and reemerging communicable diseases, the rise in injuries due to accidents and unlawful behaviour, the public’s expectations of services on par with industrialised countries and an ageing QEH [Queen Elizabeth Hospital] plant and other health infrastructure.

“In these circumstances, we found the current model of health financing has become a pressing priority due to the increasing cost of public health care services in Barbados caused by a combination of demand and supply side factors,” he said.

The Health Minister said Barbados was committed to achieving universal health services and delivering quality health services, noting that the island had adopted the Beveridge model.

Under that model, he explained, the Government provides health care for all citizens which is financed from the Consolidated Fund and a health levy collected by the National Insurance Scheme.

“Any decline in the revenue intake of Government would be reflected in a reduced allocation to the health sector, hence, an important part of the search for a new model of health financing,” Minister Walcott said.

He added that the Government would consider all options to ensure it can provide quality services, including adjusting the tax collection system.

“There is also a need to strengthen domestic tax systems and ensure that health remains a priority in resources being allocated. This is not a unique role of the health sector; therefore, there is need for a whole-of-government approach to include other sectors and ministries such as the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the intimate working group we have established to garner support from the other strategic partners both locally and overseas,” he said.

The Health Minister pointed out that the health sector played a significant role in the development of the economy, as it creates jobs, drives productivity, stimulates inclusive growth and protects the economy from the impacts of outbreaks and other emergencies.

That is why, he said, it was important for the island to invest in building a resilient health system based on strong primary health care.

Referencing the World Health Report in 2010, Minister Walcott said that 20 to 40 per cent of global resources allocated to health care were being wasted, noting that the report emphasised the need to promote efficiency.

He said Barbados was taking the necessary steps to ensure it ran its healthcare sector efficiently by engaging the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus in carrying out a study to develop programme unit costs.

Other initiatives to address inefficiencies include significant improvement in the regulatory functions, strategic and effective purchasing of health inputs, comprehensive review and improvement of human practices, and effective separation of regulatory functions from the provisions of services where appropriate.

Barbados is also taking other steps such as strengthening health information systems, reforming the Barbados Drug Service and implementing performance reviews and development systems.

Minister Walcott said that based on additional health financing work conducted last November, there were four key highlights that must inform the development of a proper health finance framework for Barbados.

He said health financing must assist in controlling morbidity; medical services and other service delivery systems must be geared toward the effective utilisation of best practices to ensure efficient use of scarce resources; equity of access must become a reality within the healthcare system as the population must be shielded from catastrophic healthcare expenditure; and resilience must be built into the healthcare system, given prospects of natural disasters and pandemics affecting the Caribbean.

The Health Minister said those events had the potential to cripple the economy and an emergency fund must be developed. (SZB)

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