Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

NHI healthcare would not be rationed - Dr Irad Potter

- says referrals to be done on basis of guidance of what is needed
Healthcare referrals for patients requesting overseas treatment will be done on the basis of what is needed and will not be rationed according to Chief Medical Officer Dr Irad Potter. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Director of the BVI Social Security Board, Mr Roy Barry stated that building capacity locally is of paramount importance and it is with this in mind that a partnership has been established between the Peebles Hospital and HIMA Health out of Puerto Rico to have specialised services on offer. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Director of the BVI Social Security Board, Mr Roy Barry stated that building capacity locally is of paramount importance and it is with this in mind that a partnership has been established between the Peebles Hospital and HIMA Health out of Puerto Rico to have specialised services on offer. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Healthcare referrals for patients requesting overseas treatment will be done on the basis of what is needed and will not be rationed. This is according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Irad Potter who is also the Chairman of the steering committee of the proposed National Health Insurance scheme in the Virgin Islands.

“Referral overseas would be guided by what is needed,” Dr Potter stated on the Speak Out BVI radio programme aired on September 10, 2013. He added, “this does not mean that if a person has a choice to go overseas they can’t go overseas, but what we would want is that monies spent by citizens of this Territory are preferably spent in this Territory so that those monies can be reinvested in this Territory.”

He said this would allow for continuous improvements in the care offered locally and mean that at some point in the future, the healthcare offered here would be second to none so that the need to go overseas would be continuously reduced.

Dr Potter said one of the challenges the team has had to respond to is the notion that care would be rationed, “We won’t ration care, care that is needed would be provided, either locally or through partnerships. At the end of the day what is needed is that people get necessary care and that they themselves do not end up making commitments to seek care overseas and find that they are unable to cover the cost,” he stated.

Deputy Director of the BVI Social Security Board, Mr Roy Barry stated that building capacity locally is of paramount importance and it is with this in mind that a partnership has been established between the Peebles Hospital and HIMA Health out of Puerto Rico to have specialised services on offer. “They are also in the process of partnering with other facilities to ensure that we have that level of care on a local front,” Barry stated.

He added that in the event that care is not accessible locally, the NHI will have a network in place within the region and within the US where patients can be forwarded to have their needs met.

The proposed National Health Insurance system is a contributory health insurance plan that provides coverage for all legal residents of the Virgin Islands.

According to Barry, the system is based on one’s ability to pay rather than one’s health risk, age, occupation or pre-existing conditions.

13 Responses to “NHI healthcare would not be rationed - Dr Irad Potter”

  • qc (11/09/2013, 11:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    but i thought this thing dead in the waters
    • @ qc (11/09/2013, 12:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are right on point!
      • Savings (11/09/2013, 14:51) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        The NDP doesn't put down what they want to do for no one. All they do is repackage it & stuff it down your throat with fancy speeches & marketing. Look a wilful & boastful government at work. We in trouble. Businesses in trouble with this new tax.
  • Ha! (11/09/2013, 12:43) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dead you say? Wishful thinking. They going full fledge ahead with this. Want it or not, hear it comes! I'm sure that my employer will no longer pay for our existing insurance since it's mandatory for them to pay this insurance. A once free benefit, is suddenly snatched away all because of this NHI. I would really like to know if the government considered and understands that some of us receive free insurance from our employers as a benefit!
  • please (11/09/2013, 14:42) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    This man has been over health for years & we ain't no better off from the day he took up his job. A total waste of time.
  • Ah saw (11/09/2013, 14:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ronnie seriously mis spend our tax dollars building the eternity hospital with his signed Santo construction company now the price must be paid by we the public through NHI for his carelessness.
  • send help (11/09/2013, 14:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    This guy has done nothing significant to improve health care for his 20 plus years in the health field. Add to him a stubborn Minister & what we get...A NEW TAX TO PAY CALLED NHI.
  • Cut back (11/09/2013, 14:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you cut back on spending on this man & his minister & NDP colleagues travel then we can pay for health care for the people without introducing this new tax burden on the people because of this man & his minister mistakes in health over the past few years.
  • Sickness (11/09/2013, 15:05) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    A lot of what is happening bad in health today is a result of this man Moreso than anyone else. Retire this man forthwith in the public's interest. He is arrogant & thinks he knows it all. We will never get a good modern & strong healthcare once this man is involved. He is just a good talker & traveller.
  • Music (11/09/2013, 15:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But is he related to anyone? How can one person stay in a top and important job for so long? Or is it really a non job?
  • WHERE IS FREDOM RIGHTS? (11/09/2013, 17:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    WE ARE TOLD TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT OF CHOICE, FREEDOM AND EQUALITY YET STILL THE GOVERNMENT IGNORES THE PUBLIC AND STILL DO WHAT THEY WANT. THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY BVISLANDERS WHO GO AWAY FOR SCHOOLING OR OTHER PURPOSES DO NOT RETURN. EVERYDAY LIFE IS GETTING HARDER. YOU CAN BARELY AFFORD THE BASIC NECESSITY NOT THE GOVERNENT IS FINDING OTHER REASON TO REDUCE YOUR ALREADY TINY PAY CHEQUE.. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND I HOPE I LEAVE THE BVI BEFORE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE NO ONE IS TAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF MY SALARY WITHOUT MY CONSENT.. I'M NOT STANDING FOR THIS BS WHILE THE POLITICIAN CONTINUE TO FILL THIER POCKET.. I GUESS TO RICH WILL GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER AND THE BVI IS GETTING WORSE (LIFE GETTING HARDER) EVERYDAY THAT GOES BY. I STILL SAY NO TO NHI! LET IT BE A CHOICE NOT A MANDITORY IMPLEMENTATION.. SLAVERY DAYS ARE OVER!
  • simple (12/09/2013, 19:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would like to propose a simple solution to address this exorbitant percentage of insurable earnings. colleagues please have your employers consider ingenious ways to lower your annual income. One could simply open a consultancy company in an offshore jurisdiction and pay that company a significant portion of your salary and therefore you will pay a smaller amount towards NHI and Payroll tax .
  • chad (12/09/2013, 21:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    this initiative will never get off the ground. Its a rip-off and not planned. I will march against it.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.