Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday confirmed that several government ministers have travelled to Ireland to seek medical attention but stressed that this is at their own expense.
During a post -Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon was asked whether permission was given to the ministers to seek treatment in Ireland as well as who paid the US$16,000 bill for one of them who recently travelled there.
Harmon told reporters that permission was granted and “so far bills are dealt with by the ministers themselves”. He said that currently government is negotiating and has gone a very far way in establishing a medical insurance policy which will take care of similar matters in the future.
Asked why Ireland is the chosen destination as oppose to the Caribbean or the United States, Harmon said “the point is if you are sick, you want to get what you consider to be the best possible medical facilities and in the opinion of the ministers who have gone that is where they can get the best treatment for whatever is the ailment that they suffer”.
He said that the cost for each would be different as it depends on the issue that the minister has to deal with. He said that these are expenses being borne by the ministers and later when the insurance policy kicks in, it will deal with such matters.
