Turks and Caicos, June 6, 2017 – Providenciales – The baby boy has attracted national attention as his condition after being born 2-3 months early again raised questions about coverage under the National Health Insurance Plan; but sadly yesterday the premature child died.
We reported yesterday on the heated social media comments which blasted officials of the NHIP and Government including the Premier for what some believe is a bad policy.
NHIP uses only or primarily uses hospitals within the region for its medical care abroad programme and that presented a problem to the family of the baby born on Sunday morning around 6am at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center.
It is said the Family wanted to step outside of the network. When we spoke to the baby’s father, Kyle Smith, he was focused on airlifting his newborn son and distanced himself, the child’s mother and their immediate families from the harsh remarks.
We later learned that the premature baby was headed to Colombia for treatment.
However, the opportunity never came as reports are the baby did not stabilize and the child died in hospital here in the Turks and Caicos and understandably the family is devastated.
The passing of the baby boy launched a new string of social media arguments, which included serious accusations and threats.
As the social health care plan aims to curtail spending as last year it faced a $2M overrun, there continues to be questions about best care versus affordable care.
It also sparks questions about whether, by now, the Turks and Caicos Hospitals in conjunction with the Ministry of Health should have established a local unit to treat preemie babies, as it appears there is an increase in cases of serious premature births.
In speaking to Health Minister, Edwin Astwood on Monday, he said there is a review to consider this and other changes for the Plan.
Our deepest condolences are expressed to parent, Kyle and Rachel and the family on this tremendous loss.
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