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Healthcare not a cost, but investment in people of VI– Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

-says VI must therefore ensure appropriate & needed healthcare is accessible without bias
July 8th, 2023 | Tags: health Health Ministry BVI WHO Barbados healthcare
Virgin Islands (VI) Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has called for healthcare to be viewed as an investment in the people of the VI and development of the territory, rather than it being viewed as a cost. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley said the WHO’s Universal Health Care Strategy underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to health care while adding that it is imperative for us to ensure that appropriate, needed, health care is accessible without bias. Photo: Internet Source
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley said the WHO’s Universal Health Care Strategy underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to health care while adding that it is imperative for us to ensure that appropriate, needed, health care is accessible without bias. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has called for healthcare to be viewed as an investment in the people of the VI and development of the territory, rather than it being viewed as a cost.

Honourable Wheatley made the state during Friday’s July8, 2023, Second Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly where he stated that it is important to not view health as a cost, but more of an investment.

“Without healthy people, we do not have productive people.  Without productive people, we do not have a productive economy.  Without these, we cannot develop as a Territory.  Interestingly enough, healthy people are also a sign of a thriving economy and well-developed Territory.  The two-go hand in hand.”  

Hon Wheatley was at the time reporting to the House on the recently attended Ministerial Conference on Chronic Diseases and Mental Health organized by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Small Island Developing States in Barbados from June 11 to the 16.

Providing equal access healthcare in the VI

“The WHO’s Universal Health Care Strategy underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to health care.  It is imperative for us to ensure that appropriate, needed, health care is accessible without bias,” he said.  

He added that the conference highlighted the need to involve all sectors of Government, civil society, and both service users and persons with lived experiences in the process of making policy and developing and evaluating programmes.

He added that Government cannot act alone and where commercial activity is having negative impacts on health the sector must be engaged as vigorously as when we engage them on positive matters.

“The actions that negatively affect health and those required to positively impact health are not only in the Health Sector but also in every sector of Government and society.  Hence a whole of-society approach is needed,” he said.

9 Responses to “Healthcare not a cost, but investment in people of VI– Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • Hmm (08/07/2023, 14:02) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    NHI could have a lot of money overflowing if the doctors bills were not so much. Imagine to do a chest CT scan at Dr. Orlando hospital the cost is over $2000. without copay and NHI only covers $1500. This is the hospital imagine if it has to be done at a private center. Its not private clinics alone ripping off people. Why is there no echo being done at the hospital. why isn't there an oncologist at the hospital. some down island countries as you call it Chemo is free you only pay for radiation.
  • one eye (08/07/2023, 14:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is right
  • The watchdog (08/07/2023, 14:52) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Vincent Learnt his lessons from last election he is doing much better
  • FACIAL EXPRESSION (08/07/2023, 19:51) Like (3) Dislike (16) Reply
    IS SAYING )> THIS REAL SERIOUS , AM CUTTING BACK ON Mr DON Q / Mr
    WALKER AND ALSO MY PATHNER FROM MEXICO ( AKA ) TEQUILA , AH GOTA TEK CARE OF THE PEOPLE'S BIZ - NES NOW
    • @Facial Expression (08/07/2023, 21:32) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      You sound so silly. A person has a personal life just like you. Why you dont expose your skeletons in your closet here instead of chatting and typing foolishness
  • salty (09/07/2023, 10:25) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    They just jealous of Vincent he beat out the other three the voters in d 9 have spoken Vincent again!!!
  • Manjack (09/07/2023, 12:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    , Indeed, accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare is critical and vital to the health of the VI community, human development index, and economic growth, development, sustainability and resilience. Nevertheless, healthcare is a costly investment and skilled effort must be put into the organizing, planning, etc, developing and providing healthcare to maximize the investment dollars efficiency. Moreover, the NHI was a good idea but flawed in implementation and execution. The BVI is a small community of approximately 34,000 people, so it was always going to be a challenge to fund national healthcare through worker contributions. The NHI was flawed in that it didn’t set maximum cost/fees for most procedures to participate in the Programme. For example, if doctors wanted to partake in the programme they would have to agree upfront to maximum reasonable charges for listed and agreed to procedures. Instead, what is happening is that they are exploiting the situation by charging exorbitant fees. Pure greed. Government was a player in this SNAFU. It dropped the ball, assuming that the Dr. Dears would be reasonable with a conscience, shedding their greed. Of course, the NHI has other issues. Moreover, healthcare is the most important, foundational, service in the territory, leading education, economy, etc. Consequently, it needs to be led and managed by a skilled, knowledgeable, and an experienced healthcare professional team. A flaw of the Westminister system is that the elected team is the one that is put on the field. Some of those players are 1) Peter Principled, 2)Cowboys and Cowgirls, 3) Toxic, 4)Retired in Placed (RIP), etc. We need less talk and more concrete action.
  • @ @ FACIAL EXPRESSION (09/07/2023, 19:43) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SENCE OF HUMOR , THATS NOT THE PERSON'S FAULT , AND IF YOU ARE SO WISE WHY WOULD RESPOND TO SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS STUPID OR SILLY ? SOUND LIKE YOU GOT TOUCHED ???? ARE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE TYPES WHO RATHER READ ABOUT DRIVE BY KILLINGS OR OUR LATEST DAYLIGHT ROBBERY AT THE PIER PARK ? HEY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT , TO EACH HIS OWN , BY THE WAY DO YOU COLLECT SKELTONS CHECK OUT CSC ????


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