(Barbados Nation) It’s official. Non-nationals can no longer access Government medical treatment facilities in Barbados unless in cases of emergency or a public health threat.
This is the new policy of the Ministry of Health following a recent review, and which has been communicated to doctors through their union, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), via a letter from Permanent Secretary Ronald Fitt.
However, outspoken attorney David Comissiong on Tuesday branded the reviewed policy a disgrace and said Government should be rebuked for it.
The new policy states:
(i) No medical services, including diagnostic, clinical or pharmaceutical shall be provided to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents. However, medical services can be provided in circumstances of genuine emergency, pre-natal care, immunization, conditions of current public health significance and HIV/AIDS treatment; and
(ii) Individuals who are neither citizens nor permanent residents shall be advised to seek medical treatment from a private sector provider of his or her choice. “The above policy is also applicable to individuals residing here on work permits,” the document said.
“Within this policy framework, you should note that only patients outlined at Paragraph 1 will have their laboratory tests done at the Winston Scott Polyclinic Public Health Laboratory. Persons will be required to have their identification card and/or other documents on hand to verify their status.
“However, should there be any indication of a public health threat/infectious disease, the request for laboratory services will be honoured.”
Comissiong blasted the provisions, stating that he was appalled by them.“
I take the first paragraph to mean that doctors are not to provide undocumented migrants with medical services unless in an emergency. If this is the correct interpretation, I would say this Government is a disgrace and should be rebuked by all Barbadians. To give this direction to doctors who took an oath to care for all humanity, we are slipping into barbarism,” he said.
“Barbados is a civilized society and people should be attended to whether they are legal or not; this appalls me.”
On the provisions of the second paragraph, he was equally scathing.
“Persons who have immigrant status in Barbados or are here on work permits, work here, pay income tax, pay VAT, make National Insu-rance payments and generally contribute to this country in ways that citizens and permanent residents do. Why should these people be denied access to state facilities that their taxes help to finance? That is wrong!”
