My thoughts on…free health care in Jamaica
I was reading Jamaican Scientist (a blog I stumbled on while going through my site stats) when I found out that the Bruce Golding led Administration is gonna implement free healthcare on April 1st. Two things came to my mind. This is either a godsend for the Jamaican people or the worst April Fool’s joke ever! Something this momentous you’d expect to hear more of in the Jamaican media. But I just heard of it tonight. Guess they don’t want too much of a rush April 1st.
While I applaud this move, I wonder how our new government will fund it. Health Minister Ruddy Spencer said it would require 1,500 additional nurses, doctors and pharmacists. Wow. That’s a lot of paychecks. Not to mention the additional medical supplies. Accepting handouts to fund this would not help our debt-ridden little island. Still, the government said that they have set aside US$54 million to offset this cost, and Ruddy estimates that the costs won’t exceed US$24 million in the 1st year.
I won’t bash this plan at all, as we Jamaicans tend to underestimate ourselves just ’cause we’re Jamaicans. Look. They said free education for children wasn’t possible, and look at it now! I’m still of the opinion that it was a political gimmick and nothing more. We’re doing this, while America still has its head up its ass concerning healthcare. See, we can actually be better than Uncle Sam.
You said, “I’m still of the opinion that it was a political gimmick and nothing more.”.
You were still of the opinion that WHAT was a political gimmick, free education or free healthcare?
Personally, I think Bruce is planning to fly the country’s debt burden to the moon! What is he thinking? I’m getting worried!
Mad Bull’s last blog post..Busy Like a Bee!
I hope it works. We’ll never get that in the US. The insurance lobby practically owns the Congress; they are rich as hell off our crappy health care system. And politicians who say they are going to change it make me laugh until it hurts.
enemy of the republic’s last blog post..Yo–Another Post! This Could Become A Habit!
it can be done
they can also take it back if they find it is not working–nothing wrong with admitting something more difficult than previously thought
GC’s last blog post..Yo–Another Post! This Could Become A Habit!
they do it up here in Canada. Its great for folk that cant afford some of the health bills but it sure can lead to some ridiculous wait times to see your GP if anything is wrong.
jdid’s last blog post..Bits n Pieces
Good god I thought you’re sight was gone as last night I got an error page. Glad you are still here.
I hope the new system works out. It’s difficult to pull off but not impossible. as for our healthcare system here, there isn’t one unless you’re loaded and if you’re not loaded you better have a job that provides health insurance. If not, you’re in a world of hurt should something happen.
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I have learned that nothing is free, someone has to pay. And in Jamaica, it’s not the Government, but me and the other taxpaying working class people! With the nurses and doctors crying for more pay and under equipped hospitals, free health care looks like a sick joke or a real big problem looming!
Stunner’s last blog post..Carnival Road March - Jamaica Carnival!
If they can pull it of for subsidize it enuff to make it affordable then all good
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When you say “look at free education now” what do you mean? From day one I was one of those people who laughed when I heard of free this and that bcause anything free cannot be good…and anyway, as Stunner said…it’s not free….we hardworking taxpayers have to PAY! The resources didn’t just drop from the sky. Also, when Bruce Golding said that he can’t sleep at night when he thinks that a grandmother cannot afford hospital or health care and may die….granny’s gonna die anyway after waiting. As the CEO of the May Pen Hospital said: GUNSHOT AND SERIOUS VICITMS FIRST…ALL OTHERS AFTER….now y’all know the crime situation….so when do you think the ordinary citizen will get through? Free services = Poor services and I am going to watch the growth of the private practice. I had a relative who could tie up arrangements to have major/serious surgery in a matter of days with a PRIVATE doctor. I also know someone who had to wait 6 months for a similar surgery…and this was before April 1! I am just going to sit and watch it crumble. People should have a sense of social responsibilty and PAY! Damn it man!
Jamaican Girl 2007’s last blog post..Earth Hour
i really would love this to work but i don’t imagine this working for long term we are already debt ridden in so many sectors subsidies and short falls everywhere and then to provide money for this… we’ll see all i know is i want some of what the cabinet is smoking they must be on might be the only way i can ignore the almost trillion dollar debt and all these ooh soo great freebies*u sense my enthusiasm?*