Anguilla’s Premier and Minister of Finance and Health, Dr. Ellis Webster, has responded to criticisms from members of the public about the Government’s decision to increase medical fees.
Speaking in a Radio Anguilla interview on Wednesday, January 6, the Premier said in part: “We have to put this into context. The financial position of Anguilla is such that, as we stated from coming into Government, there have been deficits and a mismanagement of funds under the previous administration. So it puts us in a bad position.
“In my budget speech, we talked about the help we got from the United Kingdom Government and the taxpayers of the United Kingdom. And certainly this is one way where we have to make some sacrifices. We have new facilities that were paid for by the United Kingdom from the Anguilla Programme. The hospital has been upgraded; we have a new storeroom; new clinics coming on stream; and with this also comes that we want to improve the services, and that requires a cost.
“The healthcare fees have not been increased in over ten years and, comparatively with other entities here in Anguilla and overseas, the fees are extremely reasonable. But to provide the quality of care that we want to do, and maintain, the fees had to be increased.
“Some people are concerned about the percentages that they see; but, if you are starting numbers, say for a consultation with a doctor [at the hospital] at 90 dollars EC, and you increase that to 180 EC dollars, that is still less than 70 dollars US for a visit [to a private doctor]. Certainly, we know that in Anguilla persons are paying more than that if they go to see someone privately. And definitely if they go St. Maarten, or elsewhere, they are paying significantly more than that. The lab fee of 25 dollars is going up by 40 percent. Because of COVID, we have to improve our lab services and hire lab personnel. We right now need to hire two more lab technicians. Because these are necessary things, we have to make sure that we provide the quality of care that is necessary in these times; and so, that is what led to the fees having to be raised.”
Dr. Webster continued: “We don’t have enough of a cushion, financially, to be able to absorb the costs; and we have increased the subvention to the Health Authority. If we don’t raise the fees, that would require more of a subvention. Already, in our budget, we are giving an extra 1.3 million dollars to the Health Authority. Subventions come from the people’s taxes, so we either have to raise taxes or allow the fees to be raised so that whoever is utilising the services need to pay more. That is how we maintain the healthcare services we have. We don’t want to see the services reduced. We certainly don’t want to see the hospital’s doors have to close. We want to take care of the people of Anguilla and this sacrifice is required.”
Dr. Webster said that despite several initiatives to collect outstanding debts, owed to the hospital by a number of persons, between one and two million dollars was still owed to the Health Authority. “The Health Authority has tried such innovative ways as saying that, at the end of the year, if you pay 50 percent of what you owe, it would write off the rest. People have to realise that the service has to be paid for. It costs something to provide good quality health and pay for medications. We want to make sure that we can provide those services; and to continue to be affordable and accessible.”
The Premier stated that the fees of an Anguilla Government-employed surgeon amount to about 1000 EC dollars to remove a colon and other procedures in Anguilla. Comparatively, the same procedures done privately could cost 4,000 or 5,000 US dollars. He felt that the increased fee of 1,500 EC dollars at the hospital was reasonable.
“Persons have to understand that there are no free lunches. The services have to be paid for,” he stressed. “Even though these costs are not market costs, they are still much less than what they would be if you had to pay the actual costs.”
Dr. Webster said the increased fees have to be ratified by the Attorney General’s Chambers. He explained that the legislation states that the fees cannot be raised by the Health Authority, but have to go through the Executive Council. The new fees will take effect this year, 2021.
