No accountability on health surcharge

THE EDITOR: Time and time again, the working population of TT has been besieging the Government to explain the full meaning of the health surcharge which has been forcibly thrust on them for the past 20 years. This surplus charge was administered by the Williams regime, with the threat that “not a dam dog bark.” The total net dollar accumulation over the years is staggering. Where is the money? Monies were simply deducted, without any agreement, and no individual proposals or benefits (in writing) were given to the subscribers of this notorious plan. No accountability or transparency up to this day has been offered by the Government. What is the health surcharge all about, what are the benefits? In short, why am I paying this money?

Sir, for the past 20 years, the subscribers to this plan have been asking these questions and the government simply ignores the population with a deafening silence. Yet they continue to shamelessly extort the hard earned cash from the people. Why can we not attend the Mount Hope Hospital with a plastic card showing that we are contributors to this plan? Why do we have to pay at Mount Hope before any service is administered? This is a blatant rip-off by a Government which is now proceeding with the Integrity in Public Life Act. How come there has been no auditing of these funds to show the public? Who handles the Consolidated Fund? Is this not a subtle form of corruption? Should the people follow the recent successful Georgia confrontation? What is the value of the Freedom of Information Act?

During the recent controversy with the doctors, hundreds of nationals were refused treatment and service at public health institutions, only to pay exorbitant fees at private clinic. Should we not get a rebate? You are showering largesse on BWIA, CEPEP, URP etc. You have just completed a $54 million book grant project, giving away $2.3 million to Republic Bank in the process. What we get in return is crime and kidnapping. You keep saying that it is State funds. Who is the State, and what say does the State have in the disbursement of these funds? You are running our business and spending our money according to your whims and fancies, and because of this crime will get worse. The NIS and the Lottery Board are billion dollar rip-off political institutions, but we still get something in return, small as it is, but the Health Surcharge is internal capital flight.

The running of Mt Hope Medical Complex is the business of the Ministry of Health, and it should not be dependent on monies collected from citizens who are emotionally tramautised during emergencies. Emergency treatment must begin immediately, and financial transactions must take second berth. This is Quality Health Care (2020 Vision). The nation has lost an undisclosed number of babies in 2003 from the Enterobacter virus. We are not even capable of sterilisation of a ward. My recommendation is that just as you have found it fit to issue plastic card to students for a $1000 grant, then issue a card to all contributors to the Health Surcharge Fund for free medical attention for his/her family. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs should also get involved in this project as it involves “value for money.”

DOODNATH MAHARAJ
Arima