Antigua and Barbuda Sees Sharp Rise in Private Doctor Fees, Residents Voice Concern
Consultation fees at private medical offices across Antigua and Barbuda have jumped by at least $100, prompting public concern over affordability and access to healthcare.
Routine doctor visits that previously cost around $150 now range between $250 and $350, leaving many residents questioning the sustainability of their health expenses. “Everything goes up now and then, but a $100 jump in one go feels too steep,” said one resident, describing the hike as unreasonable and calling instead for a gradual increase.
Doctors argue that the decision stems from rising operational costs and years of stagnant fees. Several practitioners said that the prices of basic medical supplies have doubled or tripled in recent years, though few were willing to speak publicly.
Still, patients are questioning the rationale behind the increases, especially for standard checkups. One woman reported being charged $150 just for a consultation to review her blood test results, while another individual said he was billed the same amount to refill a prescription.
Some residents point out that while public healthcare is an alternative, it is not always practical. Long wait times, delays in diagnostic services, and a growing backlog for MRIs have led many to turn to private doctors despite the financial strain.
As costs climb, the debate over equitable healthcare access intensifies. For now, residents are left balancing health needs against already stretched household budgets.
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Thanks Antiguanewsroom. Only you deal seriously with social issues in Antigua and Barbuda.
Like said, these hospitals waste time, and people don’t like to go there. Sometimes, these hopsitals refer us to our private doctors.. so we end up there somehow…with people can hardly buy food we might as well die if we are sick
Either way you put it we are going to die. Doctor fees rising along with licensing fees and all of that. Soon from now we won’t even be able to afford Gods free air. Imagine feeling sick but don’t have the money for doctors consultations. Tho I feel consultation should be a free process. But hey.
Based on what I just listened to it seems that we can’t even afford to get sick. Pun intended
Stone, prayers for your healing and that you receive an appointment real soon. In the mean time pray. I’m not a doctor, but have done some research and know some in your position who have successfully used the following: eliminate sugar from your diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, limit or eliminate meat and processed foods; eat 3 bitter almond kernels daily, drink soursop tea and eat the fruit, get plenty of sunshine( vitamin D), grounding..have your bare feet connected to grass, dirt or sand…not concrete, eat an alkalibe diet, think positive thoughts and reduce / eliminate stress. Have the tumor(s) removed. The choice is yours, but if offered chemo or radiation afterwards I would refuse since they tend to kill healthy cells and hasten ones demise. Again, I am not a doctor. Do your research and make your own decisions.
right now I am fighting with cancer in the worst way and I am waiting for a medical procedure to be done so that I can be treated since last month. this month has one more week to go and I have not received an appointment date yet. in the mean time the cancer is progressing
So Tham don’t care about no one image getting paid at $400 per week and doctors charge $300 for just a check up that only 3 minutes or less
MSJMC sucks..I sat there from.7pm to 8am with chest pains. They told me I had avid reflux. I had to take out a loan to go to a private doctor to find out my heart was sick. So we have to go to these private doctors. We may have to sell organs to repay them…but they are necessary
These are some of the trials that people around us go through. And these are some of the topics some media houses are afraid to address. Power to you Antiguanewsroom. everybody is thinking it…talking about it amount their friends…family…associates…and no one will come forward. Great work. Your stsrs are aligning. This media house is small but like we say in Antigua…they thalawah!
It seem as if Antigua Surf is a ward aid or a cleaner at the hopstial. How you so specific with these details? But I see your point and you are correct. Now go back to work
Faithful National. Do we receive care at MSJMC? The only people who actually get care are the ones who are top class. Like Max Hurst. I’m pretty Sure Lionel got the best of care when he was hospitalized the other day. I remember when I use to work at the hospital, there was this one time a VIP person was coming and the Ward Sister was in such a rush. That she was even telling a Goddard Catering working “we need a food right now, there’s a Private person coming in, some knight, a VIP. Call and get a food up here now”. Compare this to the treatment they gave patients like those in 493 or 489 or even 401 on the surgical side of the hospital. They give them attitude. All like “I’ll call the kitchen to see if they can bring something for you, if not your family would have to bring something or you wait until lunch”. So people must complain. Doctor fees are getting high and the public hospital is killing us.
“WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed a wide-reaching executive order on Monday directing drugmakers to lower the prices of their medicines to align with what other countries pay that analysts and legal experts said would be difficult to implement.
The order gives drugmakers price targets in the next 30 days, and will take further action to lower prices if those companies do not make “significant progress” toward those goals”.
This is what a leader who works in the interest of his people will do (and challenge the establishment).
In this country, all is done, except really really fighting for poor people but the foolish majority keep voting to carry more burden, so it is what it is.
So sad.
Antiguanewsroom we live in an EC country next time please use the relevant currency.
Anyway. Yes the hospital is a viable option but when u take your child there at 6 and had to leave at 1am without seeing the Dr how viable is that?
When one Dr in shift or sometimes NO Dr at all how viable is that?
The hospital needs a shake up or maybe better monitoring to ensure the people that our money paying are at work to execute their duties
This country is becoming the heartache of many. If we focus on how hard things are becoming we will forever need to pay that high bill at the doctor. Take the problems to
If these doctors are raising fees for consultation, and other services,so i guess that the consumer affairs can consult the government of raise minimum wage, base on the hiking of food prices,and other products…
What????? Their justification is not justifying at all. I can understand if medication go up but what does the tariffs and increase in cost of living have to do with a consultation.
Trump put tariffs on words too?
All you too dam wicked some of all you. That’s one of the reasons people just avoid Dr”s all together cause they just can’t afford it and the hospital is a waste of time most of the times
The Doctors and lawyers are the most expensive people draining the lifeblood out of poor people These people have no conscience. They are in the profession for the love of Money and not concerned about the clients. You pay a Doctor for a visit and still have to pay to get them read your Results.
Good day all please don’t knock the hospital so hard, the doctors there do the best they can with the little they have. A young white doctor the other day saved my life and not only that she went out of her way to get a donation for me to get private test in one of them expensive place. She really cares for patients, so please don’t knock that hospital so hard for it wasn’t for there I would be dead. Thanks to the hard working people there,
Ladies and gentlemen After the papy show plandemic and the subsequent high moral with $$$$ incentives for those poor human beings,they have the right to increase the value for the consulting. Remember,a lot of them get banks loans to build humongous houses or improve they clinics….my recommendation to them (pray,pray with all your force to your saint W.H.O ) Mr criminal (the director) is eager to listen to you and unleash the next plandemic,Antigua government support to give them the opportunity to ruling we sovereignty because the next PLANDEMIC (MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES DO SO ALREADY).
Meanwhile Gatson Browne spending y’all tax money on mounting lawyer fees… It’s not a laughing matter, but now y’all crying?
Kudos to ANR. I was patiently waiting for this to be brought to light. Imagine going to the hospital for care, only for the doctor that is on duty and supposed to be treating you is referring you, to their private office that they own or work. Every other month a doctor that is been paid to work in the hospital opens a private Shop. They are becoming billionaires on Antiguans and Barbudans backs. $400-$500 for a doctor visit and they are telling to return next month. Why??????
Nurses and other medically trained personnels are been taken advantage of because why are you paying $500. To see a doctor while other medical staff who spends more time with a patient is being paid minimum medical salary. 60% of them work in the hospital and is being paid $20,000. per month, tax payers money and you don’t see them working in the hospital. They come to work 8am by 9am they are gone to their private office. Emergency surgeries are being done after 4pm and into the nights when their private office closes, then they will come and do the hospital patients. If you are a patient of the hospital you have to wait months and even years to get a surgery done while their private office patients gets preferential treatment.
I welcome the transfers of PS especially the one from health. Wicked, evil and bad minded.
The government is paying these doctors to care for us and they can come when they want and do as they please. Referring us from the hospital to their private office. If you can’t afford the cost for their private office and you return to the hospital they pass all sorts of degrading remarks, you are left sitting in a waiting room for hours to see them or they refuse to see you.
When they realize you have insurance coverage the cost and fees for treatment and procedures multiply by 200%.
The government need to address this rise in cost in private medical care. Some can afford it. The others of us will die seeking to pay the inflated cost or sitting in the hospital waiting room, that is reserved for poor people. The government needs to and can put caps on private medical care cost. It is done in other parts of the world.
The older, senior consultants have their office and when the doctors who come after them opens their office and start their own business, they try to pressure them and spite them in the hospital. Instead of teaching them to take over when they retire, they chastise them and pressure them, to either quit or be transferred to another department. They are evil and wicked. God will punish them, one by one.
Praise the Lord that Jesus is coming soon to rescue us from the hands of our enemies.
They bring their private patients from their office to do procedures at the hospital after being paid in their office for the procedure. The other medical persons don’t receive an extra dime for assisting them and the patient still has to pay the hospital fees. Highway robbery.
Recently we have seen the stats of nurses leaving SLBMC other medically trained personnel are leaving as well, no one is asking why, they are only seeking to replace them.