Dear Editor,
Given the serious challenges faced by our health services, not just now, but in general, it remains hard to comprehend why the Government would underspend its budget by $7.7 billion for the April - July 2014 period, especially when tax collection for that same period was only $0.6m below target. Trevor Munroe and his National Integrity Commission has publicly sought an explanation, but I have seen no response.
Given that the recurrent budget for health for 2014-15 is only $35.9b, an extra $7b would go a long way to improving the dire situation in both our hospitals and clinics. Even more so given that the 2014 budget files reveal that nothing was allocated for capital spending on health (local money - Capital A) and just $0.9b from foreign sources (Capital B). In fact, that $35.9-b recurrent would have to be $39.2b to equal in real terms the spending two years ago (using an eight per cent inflation adjustment).
Compare these figures to the $132.6b set aside for debt interest for 2014-15 and $100.7b for amortisation -- a total of $232.3b. I hope the IMF Economic Growth conference in Montego Bay will not only examine the many impediments to growth -- including bureaucracy and depressed local demand -- but also the need for a healthy population that doesn't regularly have to spend a whole day (or longer) waiting at health facilities. Has anyone added up the economic cost of this lost time?
Compared to other Caribbean countries, Jamaica spends less per person on health, so no wonder we are struggling with the inadequate budget allocation. The following figures (per person) are from the World Bank, in current US$, for 2012: Barbados 938, Cuba 558, St Lucia 556, Grenada 478, and Jamaica 318. These figures include both public and private provision, so the US$130 per person in the public sector I heard quoted by Dr Shane Alexis last week is about right.
As a percentage of GDP, these same figures translate into Barbados 6.7 per cent, Cuba 10.2 per cent, St Lucia 7.7 per cent, Grenada 5.8 per cent, and Jamaica 5.2 per cent. Another comparison is given for 2010 in Wikipedia, this time based on a more meaningful purchasing-power-parity international US$ measure, as follows: Barbados 1,520, St Lucia 703, Grenada 632, Cuba 414, and Jamaica 397.
Our hospitals and health centres are desperately understaffed, and is that any surprise given the inadequate budget? Dr Alexis also mentioned that there is no incentive for health professionals to remain in the public system given the poor facilities and lack of support which often result in them not being able to fulfil their professional (and personal) commitment to care.
Did our esteemed visitor from the IMF comment on any of this in July when she was so busy making our Government feel good. An entirely different message is now emanating from the electorate, including many PNP supporters. How can we have a stable and productive society without an adequate health service? A stable economic platform cannot be a precursor to adequate health facilities. As with education and physical/social infrastructure, all need to move forward together if we are ever to grow out of debt.
Paul Ward
Kingston 7
pgward72@gmail.com
Health sector woefully underfunded
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Given the serious challenges faced by our health services, not just now, but in general, it remains hard to comprehend why the Government would underspend its budget by $7.7 billion for the April - July 2014 period, especially when tax collection for that same period was only $0.6m below target. Trevor Munroe and his National Integrity Commission has publicly sought an explanation, but I have seen no response.
Given that the recurrent budget for health for 2014-15 is only $35.9b, an extra $7b would go a long way to improving the dire situation in both our hospitals and clinics. Even more so given that the 2014 budget files reveal that nothing was allocated for capital spending on health (local money - Capital A) and just $0.9b from foreign sources (Capital B). In fact, that $35.9-b recurrent would have to be $39.2b to equal in real terms the spending two years ago (using an eight per cent inflation adjustment).
Compare these figures to the $132.6b set aside for debt interest for 2014-15 and $100.7b for amortisation -- a total of $232.3b. I hope the IMF Economic Growth conference in Montego Bay will not only examine the many impediments to growth -- including bureaucracy and depressed local demand -- but also the need for a healthy population that doesn't regularly have to spend a whole day (or longer) waiting at health facilities. Has anyone added up the economic cost of this lost time?
Compared to other Caribbean countries, Jamaica spends less per person on health, so no wonder we are struggling with the inadequate budget allocation. The following figures (per person) are from the World Bank, in current US$, for 2012: Barbados 938, Cuba 558, St Lucia 556, Grenada 478, and Jamaica 318. These figures include both public and private provision, so the US$130 per person in the public sector I heard quoted by Dr Shane Alexis last week is about right.
As a percentage of GDP, these same figures translate into Barbados 6.7 per cent, Cuba 10.2 per cent, St Lucia 7.7 per cent, Grenada 5.8 per cent, and Jamaica 5.2 per cent. Another comparison is given for 2010 in Wikipedia, this time based on a more meaningful purchasing-power-parity international US$ measure, as follows: Barbados 1,520, St Lucia 703, Grenada 632, Cuba 414, and Jamaica 397.
Our hospitals and health centres are desperately understaffed, and is that any surprise given the inadequate budget? Dr Alexis also mentioned that there is no incentive for health professionals to remain in the public system given the poor facilities and lack of support which often result in them not being able to fulfil their professional (and personal) commitment to care.
Did our esteemed visitor from the IMF comment on any of this in July when she was so busy making our Government feel good. An entirely different message is now emanating from the electorate, including many PNP supporters. How can we have a stable and productive society without an adequate health service? A stable economic platform cannot be a precursor to adequate health facilities. As with education and physical/social infrastructure, all need to move forward together if we are ever to grow out of debt.
Paul Ward
Kingston 7
pgward72@gmail.com
Health sector woefully underfunded
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