Health care practitioners take part in one-day consultation

Health care practitioners yesterday joined forces with others in the public and private sector for a one-day consultation on the development of Universal Health Coverage in St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

The workshop, which was held at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, was designed to focus on a national strategy, with discussions centred on a draft document that was developed recently.

During the discussions, those present also sought to identify this country’s position, with respect to the four strategic lines that are being proposed to achieve progress towards health care for all.

Participants were divided into groups to discuss these strategic lines, which include expanding equitable access to comprehensive, quality, and community centred health services, strengthening stewardship and governance, increasing and improving financing, promoting equity and efficiency, and eliminating out-of-pocket expenditure, and strengthening intersectoral action to address the social determinants to health.

Addressing yesterday’s consultation were chief medical officer Simone Keizer-Beache, director of this country’s National Insurance Services Reginald Thomas, Pan American Health Organization country programme specialist Anneke Wilson and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment Luis Deshong.(JJ)