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Contact:
Julita Peter
Tuesday, March 16, 2004 – Members of the media were today, apprised of
Cabinet’s approval of a commission to inquire into the terms and conditions of
employment for medical practitioners. Speaking at his monthly press briefing,
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. James Fletcher informed that the five-member Commission,
which is to be chaired by former Barbadian politician, Sir Richie Haynes, would
review the system of remuneration and other conditions of service for doctors
and nurses employed in the government service, to determine the extent to which
the system had impacted on the quality of medical care. Critically, the
commission has been mandated to identify deficiencies in the system and the
extent to which they have contributed to the dissatisfaction of patients and the
general public
Dr. Fletcher informed that the plan for a new general hospital and new
psychiatric hospital would require changes in the legal and administrative
framework. “Thus, one of the essential responsibilities of the commission”, he
said, “will be to ensure that the necessary legal framework is in place.”
He also informed that the Government of St. Lucia was moving swiftly with the
implementation of a Universal Health Care System. This new system, which is
synonymous with the National Health Insurance Program will be operationalized by
the National Insurance Corporation and managed by a Board, comprising
representatives of the NIC, the Government of St. Lucia and the private sector.
Members of the media were told that Cabinet had accepted a report of the UHC
Task Force entitled “Universal Health Care National Health Insurance”, and
agreed among other things, that a public awareness, education and marketing
programme was to be prepared to familiarize the public with the proposal.
The Universal Health Care system, Dr. Fletcher said was the kind of system that
would allow for medical coverage of all St. Lucians. “Right now persons who can
afford it get their own medical insurance, but the effect of that is, the
majority of the population is uncovered where medical insurance is concerned; so
what Cabinet is seeking to do with the NIC, is to develop this Universal Health
Care system whereby persons will make contributions, and this UHC will be able
to provide for a ‘basket’ of services,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary informed however that not all services would be catered
for under this new health care system.
The local media was further told of Cabinet’s stamp of approval to the Treasury
Bills Amendment Act 2003, and its transmission to Parliament for enactment into
law. The Bill should allow for the trading of Government Securities on the
various stock exchanges of CARICOM Member States.
Approval was also given to a Draft Water Policy and Strategy for St. Lucia; the
implementation of the International Ship and Port Security CODE, which would
include among other things, the establishment of the Division of Maritime
Affairs; and the work plan of the thirty-three member steering committee to
guide the establishment of the Revenue Authority.
Cabinet has further agreed to hold dialogue with the task force on Unemployment
Insurance. The critical issues impacting on the Pitons Management Area also came
under review by the Cabinet of ministers, in addition to the national land
policy green paper, which has met Cabinet’s approval, as the precursor to the
final national land policy document.
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