Irate insiders are alleging that certain members of the Gaston Browne Cabinet are exploiting the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) by granting to “outsiders” financial privileges that contributors do not enjoy.
Accordingly, they are calling on the MBS chairman, Sir Lionel “Max” Hurst, and Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph to address the accusations.
Specifically, the sources say that, since 2014, not only are 12 consecutive months’ contributions required for residents to qualify, but financial assistance to them generally has been capped at US$10,000.
However, they allege that some Cabinet ministers have been abusing their positions by enabling the relatives of “connected persons” to access medical care to the tune of EC$100,000.
Accordingly, they say that Sir Lionel and the directors of the MBS Board need to speak up on these allegations.
In particular, they are calling on the three trade union members who sit on the Board to explain what they consider to be this “disadvantage” to the Nation’s workers.
The sources say it is a shame that the Board appears to be guided by the directives of the Health minister and his Cabinet colleagues rather than the letter and spirit of the law.
They claim, further, that the Cabinet has made a decision that any assistance for treatment abroad that exceeds the US$10k must be made – not by the Board – but by the minister of Health.
Accordingly, they charge, the Board is not being allowed to operate independently, as it was able to do under the United Progressive Party (UPP) Administration.
“Imagine that the minister and Board secretary have full access to people’s medical reports,” one source alleges.
“And imagine that the minister will then call his colleagues and ask if they know So-and-So who lives in their constituency – before he makes a decision,” that source claims bitterly.
The sources admit they are very concerned that the health and lives of residents – those whose earnings actually fund the MBS – are being weighed and determined not by medical references nor the Scheme’s actual resources, but by the political bias of politicians.
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A REAL News Report