BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AN allegation made by the Leader of the Unity Construct, the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, pertaining to fees being paid at the JNF General Hospital before one could get medical attention, was debunked by Minister of Health Marcella Liburd.
At a Special Unity Meeting held on Monday (Nov. 25) at the corner of Central and Market Streets, Dr. Harris, in speaking about the Health Sector in the Federation, told the people present that the latest monstrosity by Minister Liburd is the implementation of a fee to be paid when persons are seen by doctors at the medical institution.
"One of the last wickedness she did to the people of the country is introduce a $60 charge at Accident and Emergency (A&E), and they didn't tell you anything you know. And I ask, Marcella, as a woman, as a mother, as a representative, as a Minister for the people, as a Minister for Labour, a Minister for all of the people, does your heart, does your mind, does your conscience tell you that it is right for people to go up [Out Patient] for the first time in living memory and you can't see a doctor at Accident and Emergency unless you have $60 or an insurance card?"
Speaking with SKNVibes, Minister Librud insinuated that the politician was pedalling lies.
"It is absolutely false. Perhaps if you go to JNF yourself and go to A&E Patient and see if you are charged $60. It is absolutely false. When people cannot find anything to criticize they will make up."
Minister Librud stated that there was no recent implementation at the JNF General Hospital and that the regulations remain the same.
Contrary to the Unity Concept member’s statements, SKNVibes interviewed one Old Road resident, who stated that as recent as yesterday (Nov. 26) she had visited the hospital to seek medical attention and did not have to pay a $60 fee.
"I went to the hospital. I sat out in the waiting room for over an hour before the nurse came to take my information. Upon completion of that, she took the information to the doctor and I was called in to see him. I was given an injection and handed a prescription which I was told to take to the Pharmacy."
The young lady said that the only money paid was the $10 fee to have her prescription filled.
SKNVibes also contacted the JNF General Hospital and was told by a receptionist that there is no charge at A&E, other than for the medication given to patients.
The introduction of fees to be paid for medications received at Accident and Emergency was implemented in the last quarter of 2012.
