Patients owe $12 million to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital – PM

Persons who have used the services at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in recent times, are collectively owing the sum of $12 million to the main health care facility in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

The was revealed by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, on NBC radio last Wednesday where he said the sum is for services rendered between 2016 and the end of 2023.

At present, the government is seeking to finalize plans for some measure of debt forgiveness for persons who owe, but the Prime Minister said the details have not yet been made final. In the the meanwhile there are complaints of persons being refused admission to the hospital because of unpaid bills.

Dr Gonsalves said he has had to call the health authorities on numerous occasions because of this situation.

He explained that based on a Cabinet decision “you cannot deny somebody entry to the hospital because they have an old bill”.

He blamed the problem on a harsh decision which was in place before the ULP administration took office.