Whopping $86 Million to Health; Minister Malcolm outlines Spending

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, May 30, 2023 – The Health Ministry has hit the majority of its initiatives only two years into its term according to Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services, who also revealed how he will spend the $86 Million dollars allotted to his portfolio for 2023-2024 spending.

“In the Ministry of Health we have nine deliverables and we’ve already done seven and a half,” said the minister, referencing the PNP Citizen’s Contract. Those deliverables as listed in the contract are:

• 1.Strengthen and improve the delivery of health care through the integrated health services delivery network (IHSDN)
• 2. Upgrade the Grand Turk Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinic.
• 3. Build a new central PHC in the Cheshire Hall community
• 4. Build/upgrade the Public Health Laboratory
• 5. Complete Phase II of the Wellness Center
• 6. Build a Long-Term Hospice Care facility
• 7. Build a Home to care for persons with mental health issues
• 8. Expand Secondary and Tertiary care services within the hospitals to serve both the local and medical tourism population and reduce the need for treatment abroad
• 9. Restructure the medical treatment abroad program to procure more cost-effective care

Stressing the theme “Embracing Service Integration; Building a Resilient Health System” Malcolm detailed how the Ministry would be spending the massive allotment, the third highest ministerial budget in the country.

While most of the money goes to the Treatment Abroad Program, also Included in the budget is:

$1.3 million for new ambulances

$1.6 million for Ambulance bays in Providenciales and Grand Turk

$200 000 for upgrades to the Eliza Basden Aged care center

$100,000 for the procurement of a wheelchair accessible van for the Centres

$600,000 for the establishment of an all new aged care center in the twin islands

$50,000 for Mental Health Facilities

Also slated for completion this year is the South Caicos Morgue and a new incinerator purchase to dispose of increasing levels of medical waste.

Armed with a new 3-year National Health Sector Strategy Plan, Minister Malcolm says his ministry will continue to move toward the advancement of Healthcare in the Turks and Caicos.