Several ministers of government and prominent persons have benefitted significantly from financial aid for medical expenses over the years and the2012-13 list includes over $116M spent in 1 year on cancer treatment for now deceased presidential advisor Navin Chandarpal.
The report, for the 2012-2013 period which lists 942 persons from Regions 1 to 10 who received subsidized and full financial assistance for medical treatment, was seen by Stabroek News and had an overall total of $361.4M.
Chandarpal’s expenses topped the amount given to a patient with cancer as similar patients, diagnosed with the same disease and who requested varying amounts were only given a fraction for their treatment. This ranged from $400,000 to $5M of over $116M sought by the patients.
Of ten cheques given for dental work, which totaled $4.2M, nine were for Minister of Amerin-dian Affairs Pauline Sukhai $2.1M, Minister of Human Services Jennifer Webster $1.3M, Prime Minister Sam Hinds $28,240 and his wife Yvonne $788,880. A total of $25,160 was paid for the other person who benefitted from dental assistance.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall racked up some $4.9M in medical expenses in September 2012 in the United States. The cheque for the 42-year-old Nandlall lists “medical support” as the diagnosis.
Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh received medical assistance for a coronary artery bypass at a cost of $12.2M. This is in addition to $249,600 for his airfare. There had been no announcement that Baksh had had coronary bypass at the government’s expense.
His senior, Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy was given $1M for medical expenses for the same 2012-2013 period.
Other notable persons who benefitted from government assistance are both deceased Deputy Mayor Robert Williams and Education Minister Dale Bisnauth at sums pegged at $2.1M and $1.6M respectively.
Also on the list is Director of the Audit Office Gitanjali Singh whose medical support amounted to $2.3M and for which she travelled to Canada. Singh who is the wife of Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh also incurred airfare costs of over $1.1M.
Former Justice B.S Roy received $5.9M for a coronary artery bypass done in Trinidad and Tobago.
The report shows that Region Four had not only the largest number of recipients who benefitted from assistance but that it cost taxpayers the most, totalling $285.6M.
The table below shows the amounts incurred for the other nine administrative regions.
Questions have been raised about the guidelines that govern state medical assistance to government officials and whether there is an enshrined policy. Members of the public who have approached the Ministry of Health for aid have often complained about the bureaucratic hurdles before they are granted partial assistance.
