Government to Provide Stipends for Dialysis Patients Amidst Dispute with Inter-Health Canada

MALCOLM: …Will be providing stipends to all 61 dialysis patients around these Turks and Caicos Islands.

The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has revealed plans to directly provide stipends to dialysis patients who frequent the Inter-Health Canada-run Cheshirehall Medical Centre in Providenciales and the Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk.

This decision comes in response to concerns raised by patients regarding the discontinuation of meal amenities previously provided by these hospitals.

The Minister of Health, Hon. Shaun Malcolm, held a hastily called news conference at the Premier's Office in Providenciales on Tuesday, to address the issue. He acknowledged the distress and discussions among the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands over the past week and assured the public that the government was acting.

While Minister Malcolm could not delve into the full details of the matter due to legal constraints, he disclosed that Inter-Health Canada had historically charged the Turks and Caicos Government for meals provided to dialysis patients, which the government had duly paid for. The government is now collaborating with Inter-Health Canada to ensure that meals continue to be provided to patients.

Minister Malcolm stated emphatically, "Let me be clear, and to ensure that the dialysis patients are provided and taken care of by a standard that they have become accustomed to, my government, through my ministry, will be providing stipends to all 61 dialysis patients around these Turks and Caicos Islands, who are receiving dialysis treatment, so that they can continue to have access to a meal during treatment."

SUPPORTING THEIR COLLEAGUE: Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Shaun Malcolm (centre), during his news briefing on Tuesday, to address issues concerning dialysis patients, was supported by his parliamentary colleagues from left: Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development Hon. Jamell Robinson; Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism; Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports; Hon. Kyle Knowles - Member of Parliament for Wheeland; and Acting Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. E. Jay Saunders.

He reiterated that, due to ongoing arbitration between Inter-Health Canada and the TCI Government, further comments on the matter would not be possible at this time.

Regarding a circulated letter that Minister Malcolm said the ministry was not privy to, he noted that the ministry was currently working through the details and that the stipend payments for dialysis patients commenced as of September 4th.

He said the decision to provide stipends aims to ensure that dialysis patients can access meals during their treatment, addressing concerns raised by the community and ensuring the continuation of essential healthcare services in the Turks and Caicos Islands.