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Healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago

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Trinidad and Tobago operates under a two-tier healthcare system. That is, there is the existence of both private and public facilities.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for leading the health sector. The service provision aspect of public healthcare has been devolved to newly created entities, the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). Responsibility for the provision of healthcare services in Trinidad and Tobago was devolved from the Ministry of Health to Regional Health Authorities under the Regional Health Authorities Act No. 5 in 1994.

While the Ministry of Health does not directly run health facilities, it is required to play a key role in ensuring that they are properly run, by setting policies, goals and targets for Regions based on assessment of real health needs. This is the main role of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry also allocates resources to the RHAs to finance their operations. The Ministry of Health is shifting its focus to concentrate on policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation, regulation, financing and research. Citizens can access free health care at public healthcare facilities where health insurance is not required. However, the government is developing the National Health Service in which a package of services is to be determined, as well as a financing strategy.

Public and private

Public Healthcare is free to everyone in Trinidad and Tobago and is paid for by the Government and taxpayers. Healthcare services are provided on a walk-in basis. There are a few major hospitals throughout the country as well as smaller health centers and clinics located regionally throughout.

Several major hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago are:

  1. Port of Spain General Hospital located in the country's capital of Port of Spain. It is a major trauma centre in the Caribbean.
  2. San Fernando General Hospital located in the City of San Fernando.
  3. San Fernando Teaching Hospital located in the City of San Fernando.
  4. Sangre Grande Hospital located in Sangre Grande, Trinidad.
  5. Point Fortin Hospital
  6. Eric Williams Medical Science Complex located in Champ Fleurs, Trinidad.
  7. Scarborough General Hospital located in Signal Hill, Tobago

These hospitals are aided by many DHF'S (District Health Facilities) located throughout the country.

Reform

The Ministry of Health is mandated to provide a functioning healthcare system to benefit all citizens. This had led to the reforming of the entire healthcare system in the country.

Recently, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has launched CDAP (Chronic Disease Assistance Programme). The Chronic Disease Assistance Programme provides citizens with free prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical items to combat the following health conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Cardiac Diseases
  • Arthritis
  • Glaucoma
  • Mental Depression
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate)
  • Epilepsy
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Thyroid diseases

There are over 250 pharmacies throughout the country that provide medications through CDAP. All citizens of Trinidad & Tobago are eligible. There are no age restrictions or exceptions.

See also

Health in the Caribbean
West
Indies
Antilles
Greater
Antilles
Hispaniola
Lesser
Antilles
Leeward
Islands
Saint Martin
Virgin Islands
Southern
Caribbean
Leeward
Antilles
ABC islands
Windward
Islands
Lucayan
Archipelago
  • Bahamas
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • Caribbean
    Sea
    Caribbean
    continental
    zone
    Central America
    South America
    Wider
    groupings
    may include:
    Yucatán Peninsula
    The Guianas
    N.B.: Territories in italics are parts of transregional sovereign states or non-sovereign dependencies.

    These three form the SSS islands that with the ABC islands comprise the Dutch Caribbean, of which the BES islands are not direct Kingdom constituents but subsumed with the country of the Netherlands.

    Physiographically, these continental islands are not part of the volcanic Windward Islands arc, although sometimes grouped with them culturally and politically.

    Disputed territories administered by Guyana. Disputed territories administered by Colombia.

    Bermuda is an isolated North Atlantic oceanic island, physiographically not part of the Lucayan Archipelago, Antilles, Caribbean Sea nor North American continental nor South American continental islands. It is grouped with the Northern American region, but occasionally also with the Caribbean region culturally.
    Trinidad and Tobago articles
    History
    Geography
    Politics
    Economy
    Society
    Culture

    References

    1. "An Expat Guide To Healthcare In Trinidad & Tobago". Expat Focus. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
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