Thumbs up for Medical School?
The health minister made the disclosure during the 2012 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) deliberations where the topic was brought up regarding the establishment of medical schools in the Territory and what was the Ministry’s position on it.
Minister Skelton had also stated that in the future when inquiries are made regarding medical schools to be established in the Territory he would determine what those persons would require from the Government to establish a school.
Gov’t should not fund medical school – Dr. PotterMeanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Irad Potter when questioned by Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA, as to whether he believed Government should fund a medical school, stated that his professional opinion is that Government should not.
Dr. Potter said if Government wanted to co-partner with someone to fund a school it would not be his decision to make.
The CMO further stated that if Government invested in a training facility it would be an investment for health care and that consideration must be made for all the money spent for health services.
When asked by Minister Skelton whether he felt that the $500,000 contract for the research of the viability of a medical school for the Virgin Islands was necessary, he responded that if he was asked he would have recommended that there was no need for such a study.
He had also stated that he does not believe Government should spend money on whether schools should operate in the Territory.
Regarding his views on whether he knows if medical schools in the region were established based on studies, Dr. Potter stated that he had no knowledge on that area but as far as he is aware, entrepreneurs come into a country and express an interest in establishing a business, if consideration is given to establish a medical school, negotiations would take place.
Regarding the role the health ministry would play if a medical school is established in the Territory, the CMO said the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the establishment of schools in the Territory and that medical schools would be established, like any other industry by persons who wish to invest money.
He further noted that if one was established here, the health ministry would, as far as the clinical aspect is concerned, have a concern regarding the importation and exportation of bodies for students to work on. He said the ministry would also be involved in the licensing of practitioners and advice that medical schools would provide economic activity for the Territory.
Meanwhile, in July 2010, former Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Andrew Fahie had announced that Government had signed a contract for $551,922.00 with Effect Incorporated, a consultancy company of Virginia, United States of America, to determine whether medical schools were suitable to be established in the Territory. The reports were expected to be forthcoming sometime in 2011.
However, with the change of Government in November of 2011, the status of the report and the position of the new Government are unknown.
At that press conference, Hon. Fahie had stated that the Government will not own a medical school but rather it will be privatised. He had also announced that all eligible BVIslanders would benefit from scholarships given.
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