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Commentary: Former health minister welcomes new hospitals while residents voice cost concerns Published on Monday, February 8, 2010 Email To Friend    Print Version By David Tapfer Former Minister of Health Lillian Boyce has spoken out using her husband’s newspaper, the TCI Sun, as a sounding board to welcome the new hospitals. “What I see can easily compare with hospitals anywhere in Miami or any part of the developed world,” she said. David Tapfer is a retired, US-born engineer and management executive. He is married to Yvette Robinson, a TCIslander born in Middle Caicos and raised in North Caicos. They have a home in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos. He is also the chairman of the Middle Caicos Branch of the opposition Peoples Democratic Movement. However, the hospitals here fall far short when compared to the smallest hospital in South Florida, as the Provo hospital, which will serve over 25,000 people, has only 20 beds. Boyce addressed this issue when she indicated there is room in the building for more beds. Originally, the Provo hospital, which was started when she was a government minister, was scheduled to have 40 beds. This, nevertheless, is still tiny when compared with any hospital in Florida. There has been no explanation for the cutback from the Interim government or Royal Robinson, who was appointed as the government’s manager of the hospital project and, in 2007, was elected to Parliament. Robinson later served as finance minister for a short period under Premier Galmo Williams. The Governor announced some time ago that Robinson will continue as the liaison between the TCI and the hospital construction company until April. However the hospitals have already been turned over by the builder to Interhealth Canada, who will provide health services starting in two months. Despite the accolades attached to the project by former Health Minister Boyce, Interhealth and the interim government have indicated that they will continue to send patients to Miami for many health issues. Boyce also addressed the widespread criticism regarding the hospitals and contracted health care. She claimed all criticism is politically motivated. However, there has been extensive criticism of the hospitals from both sides of the political fence once it became known what the cost would be and the level of care offered. For example, preventative care, including Pap smears and mammograms, will not be available. This is a serious concern to all female residents. While the Progressive National Party (PNP) government was still in office, some PNP MPs did not approve the plan when it was voted on in parliament here. Residents who supported both political parties are now complaining about the new health care tax, which will only handle one third of the cost of the hospitals and health care. Many have concerns that Governor Wetherell is correct when he said that, starting in April, health care will cost the country $60 million per year. This amount is nearly one half of the government’s current total annual income. If the $85 million in new debt reduces the current debts, the country will be left owing approximately $65 million. However, the new loan of $85 million will not actually reduce, only reschedule the debt and add to the cost of servicing the loan due to interest payments. This does not account for future pay-downs, which will be encountered when a number of government projects are allowed to go forward. Repairs to the damaged roads and causeway are not included but must be addressed also. A separate but serous financial issue is the overcrowding in the schools of Provo. New schools will have to be built. One example is Clement Howell High School, which now has close to 1,000 students enrolled. Many new taxes are being considered which if loaded on top of the current tax burden may deter most future development. The cost of the small hospitals and the health programme, according to announcements made by Governor Wetherell, will cost the TCI taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next 25 years. These figures do not include the costs to patients for co-pays for visits, procedures and medications.   Reads : 205 Back... Comments: No comments on this topic yet. Be the first one to submit a comment. Back... Send us your comments!   Send us your comments on this article for publication in our Readers' Forum or as a Letter to the Editor. All fields are required and in the interest of openness and transparency we will no longer accept anonymous submissions. We therefore request that all submissions include a name for publication, regardless of content. 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