He said that one of the main concerns he has with NHI affects not just him but hundreds of other people in the territory who believe in natural cures. Photo: Internet source

Radio talk show personality Donald E. de Castro made a plug for the National Health Insurance (NHI) to take into consideration persons who believe in natural cures and alternative medicines and allow for the scheme to reimburse persons who use these means to stay healthy at a much cheaper cost than mainstream medicine. Photo: VINO/File

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton had said last year that there is currently no coverage under the NHI for ‘bush medicines’ even though he acknowledged their use among the people of the Virgin Islands, admitting that he himself uses them. Photo: VINO/File

“People keep asking me and I keep telling them the same thing…that I have no problem with the concept [of the NHI]. It is the practicality that is my concern,” he said on his show Straight Talk last evening November 11, 2015 on ZBVI 780AM

Mr de Castro said one of the main concerns he has with NHI affects not just him but hundreds of other people in the territory who believe in natural cures.

“I have no problem with the compulsory paying into the NHI because eventually everyone should benefit once all of the kinks have been ironed out.”

He added that his issue is that he should be free to make his own healthcare choices, even if those choices include exclusively alternative medicines or natural cures and remedies.

According to de Castro, he paid less than $600 using alternative medicines to treat a medical condition and bring it under control. He said he would have spent thousands of dollars had he listened to the doctors who recommended surgery for the condition.

“Will NHI reimburse us for natural cures that cost so much less and we are so much healthier?” he asked.

No coverage for ‘bush medicines’

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton had said last year, 2014, that there is currently no coverage under the NHI for ‘bush medicines’ even though he acknowledged their use among the people of the Virgin Islands, admitting that he himself uses them.

It was during the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly that Representative of the Third District Hon Julian Fraser RA asked a question on behalf of the Representative of the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie on Thursday August 14, 2014.

“In recognition of natural medicines could the Minister for Health and Social Development please inform this Honourable House if the National Health Insurance will develop criteria and standards that will recognise and address issues such as natural medicines and services provided by naturalists? And if not, why not?” asked Hon Fraser.

In response, Minister Skelton said that the NHI is designed to ensure that everyone in the public and private sectors have healthcare when they need it.

However, he said the benefits package under the NHI is for services that are backed up by scientific evidence and feasibility studies, which do not include 'bush medicines'.