Of the $361.4 million disbursed by the State as financial assistance for medical treatment in the 2012-2013 period, the majority – over $200 million – was spent on top government officials and their associates and the opposition yesterday questioned the absence of a structured policy.
“I don’t know if there is a lawful regime governing that cost of expenditure… if you are going to have a programme like that, why exclude…? What I know is we don’t get,” A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) executive Basil Williams told a news conference yesterday.
As questions continue to be raised about the large sums given to ministers of government for medical assistance, Williams stressed that there should be a structured policy so that all members of the public benefit including parliamentarians.
Questions have been raised about the guidelines that govern State medical assistance to government officials and whether there is an enshrined policy. Members of the public who have approached the Ministry of Health for aid have often complained about the bureaucratic hurdles before they are granted partial assistance.
Numerous efforts to contact both Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud proved futile.
Stabroek News was told by a Ministry of Health official that for assistance for procedures such as CT Scans, MRIs, and angiograms, the patient would be granted 25% of the costs by the State and they have to find the additional 75%.
If they still cannot afford the treatment, then they would have to visit the Ministry of Health and seek audience with the Minister on a case-by-case basis to see if they would be assisted.
The average cost for a CT scan is $27,500 and that figure goes up depending on if it is with or without contrast. An MRI costs $55,000, an angiogram $240,000 and angioplasty starts from $1 million. Oftentimes, the majority of patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital cannot afford the treatments but the source would not say what happens to them.
The report for the 2012-2013 period, which was obtained by Stabroek News, lists 942 persons from Regions 1 to 10 who received subsidised and full financial assistance for medical treatment.
The overall sum for the period was $361.4 million. Of the total amount spent on the nation, government officials and their associates accounted for over $200 million.
The 2012-13 list includes over $116 million spent in one year on cancer treatment for now deceased presidential advisor Navin Chandarpal. Chandarpal’s expenses topped the amount given to a patient with cancer as similar patients, diagnosed with the same disease and who requested varying amounts were only given a fraction of the cost for their treatment.
This ranged from $400, 000 to $5 million of over $116 million sought by the patients.
Of the cheques given for dental work, which totaled $4.2 million, nine were for Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, which amounted to $2.1 million, Minister of Human Services Jennifer Webster was granted $1.3 million, Prime Minister Sam Hinds $28,240 and his wife Yvonne $788,880. A total of $25,160 was paid for the other person who benefitted from dental assistance.
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall racked up some $4.9 million in medical expenses in September, 2012 in the United States. The cheque for the 42-year-old Nandlall lists “medical support” as the diagnosis.
Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh received medical assistance for a coronary artery bypass at a cost of $12.2 million. This is in addition to $249, 600 for his airfare. There had been no announcement that Baksh has had coronary bypass at the government’s expense.
His senior, Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy was given $1 million for medical expenses for the same 2012-2013 period.
Other notable persons who benefitted from government assistance are both deceased. Late Deputy Mayor Robert Williams and former Education Minister Dale Bisnauth were granted sums of $2.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
Also on the list is Director of the Audit Office Gitanjali Singh, whose medical support amounted to $2.3 million and for which she travelled to Canada. Singh, who is the wife of Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh also incurred airfare costs of over $1.1 million.
Former Justice B.S Roy received $5.9 million for a coronary artery bypass done in Trinidad and Tobago.
Treatment for coronary diseases and diabetes topped the list with radiation therapy and other treatment for cancers following closely.
There was also a significant number of patients for hearing aids and hip replacements.
