Call for health insurance plans at RHAs

Regional Health Authorities were yesterday advised to introduce a health insurance plan in which premiums are based on the patient’s health. Lennox Sealey, of Qual E Co Ltd, the motivational speaker at Eastern Regional Health Authority’s annual general meeting at Hilton Trinidad, suggested that people report to health centres on a regular basis to be assessed. He said the insurance premiums would be based on “personal responsibility” and would be affected when they did not take care of their health. Sealey said many companies, including insurance companies, were using a “wellness profile.” He questioned why RHAs were not doing the same for communities. He said it was “a bit absurd” for them to be struggling to get more equipment and medicines. Sealey said a system of direct feedback must be created between RHAs and people. Although information on health and the lifestyle diseases that contribute to death was available, he said this information was not being used to respond in a particular way. Instead, Sealey said the authorities used the information “among ourselves for our response.”

He insisted that the public must play a greater role in maintaining good health. He said the RHAs must reallocate responsibility for health care “in an active way” by placing more responsibility on those receiving service. Sealey said more resources will be available to those most in most need of care if people took better care of themselves. Chief executive officer of the ERHA Esau Mohammed announced that the RHA had started the fiscal year with “money in the bank” ($731,000) for the first time in eight years. By September next year, he forecast that this amount would increase to $808,000 with the addition of the $77,000 which will not be used this year.   Mohammed said $50.9 million out of $51 million will be spent in 2003-2004. This year’s allocation represents a 26 percent increase from last year when $40.29 million was budgeted.

The money will be distributed for community service provided in St Andrew/St David and Nariva Mayaro and Mayaro Polyclinic service. Mohammed said $24.9 million will be spent on the integrated health facility at the Sangre Grande Hospital. The RHA also has a further $20 million to spend, comprising funds from the Ministry of Health Development Programme, Inter-American Develop-ment Bank for the Health Sector Reform Programme, and funds unused from last year. For 2003-2004, the ERHA is focusing on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the new services introduced including, laboratory, new dental and chronic disease programmes. Mohammed said waiting times will be tackled in the new year with computerisation of medical and pharmaceutical stores and medical records. The ERHA is considering introducing an appointment system at its out-patient and walk-in clinics at primary and secondary care levels based on the success achieved at the Rio Claro Health Centre. The ERHA’s business plan includes extending the opening hours of the pharmacy at the Sangre Grande Hospital by adding two days weekly and a service on Saturday.  Mohammed said Cuban and United Nations volunteer doctors will be used to increase the number of doctors’ clinics by introducing a second health office day or a private clinic day at health centres. More doctors will be assigned to the Accident and Emergency Department at Sangre Grande Hospital.