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A Statement from the Premier and Minister of Health, Agriculture, and Human services, Dr. The Hon. Rufus W. Ewing on the National Health Insurance scheme

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Providenciales, TCI, November 28, 2016 -The National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) was established in 2009 as a Social Health Insurance Plan based on contributions from employers and employees who were legally resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is also mandated to make contributions to the plan in the following way:

  1. As an employer on behalf of its employees
  2. As a subscriber on behalf of the unemployed, indigent and ward of the state
  3. Transfer of funds for the management and payment of treatment abroad cost
  4. Transfer of funds for the payment of the monthly hospital infrastructure cost

The funds collected by the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) from its employers and subscribers are utilized to purchase health care locally from the preferred provider (TCI Hospitals), the network of contracted private primary health care clinics and private pharmacies on behalf of and to the benefit of its registered subscribers.

The NHIB on behalf of TCIG manages the procurement of overseas treatment for the beneficiaries of the NHIP. From budget year to budget year this cost is unpredictable as it is a reflection of both the number of persons requiring tertiary level care in any given year as well as the magnitude of their problems.

The cost of healthcare by the end of April 2017 is expected to exceed the budgeted provision by $6 million dollars. It is against that background that a paper prepared by the management of the board with the full knowledge of the Board of Directors, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health was submitted to cabinet for its consideration – to conclude that there was a cover-up or misappropriation of funds discovered by the acting CEO is incorrect, irresponsible and should be dismissed as political mischief.

The facts are that the treatment abroad programme has skyrocketed in the first half of the financial year amounting to over $5 million of the cost over-run. On average four patients a day are being referred abroad of which five a week are urgent referral requiring medical evacuation via private charters and air-ambulances; at the same time the number of cancer patients has been noted to have increased significantly in the first half of the year, these factors together result in an average cost per patient of around $15,000 with some patients costing in excess of $100,000. Because the NHIB until recently operated a cash basis accounting system, costs were not booked until paid.  This has now been corrected, hence the reporting of the large accounts payable balance.

A number of the more serious cases referred abroad were Turks and Caicos Islanders that were not covered by the scheme. The government takes its responsibility for the provision of its people seriously and has recently introduced changes to the NHIB regulations that would result in healthcare coverage for a wider category of patients while at the same time restricting coverage for some categories of persons which it believes should help to stabilise cost while a comprehensive review of the system is being undertaken after five years of operation.

TCIG has asked for a review of the management and corporate governance of NHIP with respect to the rising cost of overseas treatment to develop cost reduction or mitigation measures where possible without compromising care to beneficiaries of the plan. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with NHIP has already implemented several initiatives to reduce the cost of care, such as:

  1. Establishment of a free extended hours government primary care clinic
  2. Development of a new Pharmaceutical policy which would significantly lower the cost of drugs to both patients and NHIP
  3. Introduced an eligibility waiting time of 6 months for all new work permit applicants to the plan (effective December 1)
  4. Introduced a capitation on overseas care expenditure for work permit holders

The Ministry of Health will continue to implement its cost reduction strategies as outlined in the National Health Strategic Plan, the main ones of which include:

  1. Implementation of the pharmaceutical policy and plan
  2. Implementation of the Chronic Disease Action Plan
  3. Primary Health Care Renewal Strategy
  4. Development of a long term hospice care facility
  5. Expansion of existing and the Introduction of new tertiary level services at the hospitals based of overseas treatment care demands.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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