Barbadians who can pull their pockets for the rising cost of health care need to prioritize and pay up.
And for those who cannot afford their medication and the associated dispensing fees, Government needs to step in and subsidize the health system.
These were some of the views put forward by our Facebook readers in response to this week’s question in The People’s Forum.
We asked readers if they believed the cost of health care in Barbados was reasonable or rising too much. We asked if they were satisfied with how things had gone since the introduction of user fees for prescription drugs on April 1, and if Barbadians could afford to pull their pockets more to pay for health services.
Some readers, particularly Barbadians living overseas, said they believed Bajans needed to appreciate what they had, as health care in Barbados was much better than in some other countries.
Here is what some readers had to say:
Lisa Taylor: “This new system is going to be responsible for killing some of us. There are still some people who really and genuinely cannot afford their medication and sometimes have to decide if to buy food or medication. I know for a fact that the new system is wrong.
“If you go to the ever so long lines at the polyclinics and finally reach the top of the line at the dispensary, what are you to do when they do not have what was prescribed for you? Or, they may not even have the alternative at that clinic. My question is what exactly are our taxes for?”
Philip Newman Matthews: “People in other countries do not understand how hard it is to live in Barbados. Nothing is easy; the majority of Bajans can only buy some of what they need when it comes to medication and health care. Any additional expense means some needs will have to be put aside.”
Conchita Moseley: “How about reducing some of the excessive pay cheques [made out] to Government ministers? Surely that could be used as a subsidy, which would at least provide some help for the senior citizens and those at the bottom of the pile?
“Why should the poor and the old always pay for the rich to live lavishly and squander the very said taxpayers’ money? Do we want to turn back the clock to those dark ages when people died because they did not have the doctor’s fee to pay for a simple injection, or did not have a dollar to have a tooth extraction and as a result suffered pain? “Government should take care of health care for all. The least the Government can do for those remaining is to set aside money for health care.”
Marsha Wardle-Rogers: “As a Bajan living in Canada I would have to say that I think the way the health care is set up in Barbados is better. Here in Canada you do not have the option to go private if you want and that means months and months of waiting to see a doctor.
“Prescription drugs are not free here in Canada. I think Bajans should be thankful for what they have; it could be so much worse.”
Sonia Callender: “Yes, we Bajans can afford it. Every occasion we find money for new clothes and hairdo, plus money for tickets – $150 VIP. The clubs are full every weekend; so, yes, Bajans can find money for medication if they are sick.
“Sickness doesn’t come every weekend like parties.”
Erin Palmer: “Try and do some exercising and eat properly and drink lots of water. Most of these illnesses can be managed simply by doing those things. Bajans want too [many] handouts, and are always complaining.”
Ashantia Howard: “Barbados does not produce drugs locally, and the price of drugs globally has gone up like most things; so it is obvious that it cannot be business as usual. The handout, ‘give me something free’ style cannot be maintained forever.”
Clarence Fields: “I think it is one of the best things about Barbados. Bajans do not have to worry about health care. At the QEH [Queen Elizabeth Hospital] you will get some care without having to worry about your fortune. We can improve and become more efficient and caring.”
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