In 2021, approximately $125 million was spent on healthcare” – Budget Statement Presentation 2022

The viability of the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) and the challenges it faced during the last two years were placed on display during the 2022 Budget Presentation.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne disclosed that the past two years proved particularly challenging for financing healthcare because of increased demands for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decline in revenue by 20percent during the same period further exacerbated the situation.

PM Browne noted that in 2021, MBS spent an additional $8.0 million on pharmaceuticals and medical supplies required by the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre to cope with an increased level of infections brought on by COVID-19.

“This additional spending, together with a much lower level of contributions from workers and companies in the private sector, created severe challenges across the healthcare system. That funding gap of $8 million in 2021 was covered by this Government just as it was in 2020.” Prime Minister Browne stated during his 2022 Budget Statement Presentation.

The Prime Minister continued by indicating that in 2021, approximately $125 million was spent on healthcare, financed by MBS and Central Government, compared with $115 million spent in 2020.

Speaking in the House of Parliament, PM Browne stated, “our Government astutely prioritized its spending, despite its own reduced revenues, to ensure that everyone in our society, and more especially pensioners and vulnerable persons, were able to continue to get access to medical attention and medicines.”

Browne reminded the House that the government continues to promote and protect the best interest of the people.

While healthcare remains a key priority for the government, PM Browne indicated that it is the government’s short-term goal to offer Universal Healthcare for the entire population and to transform MBS into a National Health Insurance company.

“We have experienced setbacks because of the pandemic, but we continue to engage the UWI-Health Economics Unit and other stakeholders to assist us in completing the technical aspects of the work that will allow us to fully implement a National Health Insurance system by 2023,” Browne stated.

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