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VI eying Panama for overseas health care option

- Gov’t says it can provide cheaper but same or higher level health care than US
Hospital Punta Pacifica, is dubbed to be the only Johns Hopkins associated hospital in Central America and one of the facilities in Panama. This hospital is located in Punta Pacifica, and is said to have doctors practicing there who speak English and the facility provides top medical care. Photo:
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Central American country of Panama is the latest option for overseas health care service that Government is looking into using with the level of care provided by there being described as on the same level of the United States of America or even better.

While giving an update on the status of recruitment, equipment and infrastructure of the New Peebles Hospital on NDP Radio last evening July 16, 2012, the Minister for Health said Government representatives have travelled to Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Panama to ascertain the level of health care options available for residents of the VI. While both Puerto Rico and Jamaica continues to provide medical care for the VI as needed, he said what he saw in Panama was amazing.

“The team that went there …is no question that we can get good care there which is just half an hour to Puerto Rico,” Hon. Ronnie Skelton disclosed, noting that with an air ambulance from the VI, it will take a little over an hour to get there.

According to the Minister for Health, while the new hospital is being built, it was important that they continue to ensure residents get the medical attention that they needed.

He further added that Government will investigate to see how best the facilities in Panama will be utilized as even when the Peebles Hospital is finished, the Territory will still be depending on other hospitals in the region since it will never be able to handle all levels of health care.

Meanwhile, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering, who was also a guest on the programme, added that Panama has opted as an economic boost, to develop their health care facility.

He further disclosed that the country wants the entire Latin America and Caribbean to refer complex cases to them rather than the US which he said will work out cheaper for “same level or higher level of care”.

Regarding the level of expertise of the doctors in Panama, it was also revealed that they very qualified.

17 Responses to “VI eying Panama for overseas health care option”

  • janf (17/07/2012, 09:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well i heard about a medical team was available to work here in bvi from santo domingo and help,i think it will be more convinient bring doctors here that in a emergency we take a air ambulance. The doctors in santo domingo knows english too so i think is better we stay here in our island that we fly to panama. Here we are ok,we just need good doctors here and the medications. I have contact with one of that medical team am talking about.
  • Ponder the Thought (17/07/2012, 09:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We may want to consider Cuba as a template. Do exchange programs whereby nurses and doctors from BVI go there and a team from Cuba come here. Do exchange programs for 1 year or 2 years at a time. Importantly, we should have the equipment so staff can properly work their trade.
  • well sa (17/07/2012, 09:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have a better option. We should be looking into Costa Rica. Those guys are gooooood and affordable.
  • critic (17/07/2012, 10:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we wil be dead after that long flight
    • LOL (17/07/2012, 11:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      At least this administration doing something, what did the last Minister of Health do apart from have her photo taken? You are unbelievable critic, head is buried so far in the sand!
      • critic (17/07/2012, 13:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        tell him finish the doggone hospital in th 18 months that he promised
    • saying (17/07/2012, 15:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Panama is not that far
  • Joc (17/07/2012, 12:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I dont understand.... Help me on this bloggers... Why do we have to go get healthcare all around the globe?? Why not get out healthcare system (Hospital) to be one of the best in the Caribbean????? I just dont get this at all.
    • Not2Sure (17/07/2012, 14:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The BVI has a total population of just 25,000. Whatever way you look at it, there are going to be serious limitations on the healthcare options which one can sensibly make available to a population that size. There is always going to be a need to send people out to specialists and for more complicated treatments. I think it is sensible to look at other options. The only trouble with Panama being "only 30 minutes from Puerto Rico" is that Puerto Rico itself is only zero minutes from Puerto Rico. There need to be serious benefits to keep travelling when you have arrived somewhere with decent medical care.
    • ccc (17/07/2012, 15:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      same thing me ah say....we will all be dead
  • janf (17/07/2012, 15:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Am agree with joc and acc... Why we need get out bvi to have a good health care. Is not sence fly to panama,costa rica or cuba if we have the offert to have dominicans doctors available for work here in our peebles hospital for year or more.
  • Travelagent (17/07/2012, 17:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What hour to Panama??? From San Juan to Panama with a Jet from COPA is 2hrs and 50 min. If Family needs to fly as well - a OW ticket is over $600.00 plus Tort/ SJU. An ambulance flight to Dom Republic is 19,500.00 from Tortola (just paid for a friend). Not sure how much more it will be to Panama. Forget Costa Rica. All flights are going via Panama or Dom Rep.
  • What (17/07/2012, 21:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very soon the people of the BVI will have another statutory obligation- National Health Insurance. One of the questions government need to answer is; if the BVI can only provide secondary Health, and we have to be transferred overseas for tertiary health care, then why in the world they are imposing National Health Insurance on the people of the BVI. After the deductions from our salary, are we suppose to then go and get secondary health insurance.
  • Gina (17/07/2012, 23:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ronnie you drink something you should not drink? Bing in good doctor untill the hospital is complete.
  • Valley (17/07/2012, 23:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    what does all the talk mean for the new hospital and the so call one for VG?
  • New Yorker (18/07/2012, 07:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But I taught we were comfortable with Jamaica another Spanish country?? Bad idea better we stick to PR
  • MA (25/07/2012, 06:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Have you thought of sourcing agency nurses from the UK? They are highly skilled in specific areas be it Emergency Nurses, ITU, HDU, paediatrics, theatres, mental health etc, all obviously speak English and would be willing to come for short term contracts to cover staffing shortfalls.


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