Speaking on the government’s approach to healthcare reform during Monday’s weekly pre-cabinet presser, Jn Baptiste explained that the administration’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme was designed to be implemented gradually.
“Our approach has been different,” he said, continuing: “We came into government, we said we are going to begin the introduction of universal health coverage in a phased way. We said we are going to provide services to the people of Saint Lucia while we work on the other aspects of universal health coverage, the financing in particular.”
He acknowledged that finding the right model to fund healthcare remains a global challenge.
“It is a challenging proposition for all governments around the Caribbean, around the world, to find how do you finance health care in the country,” he said.
According to Jn Baptiste, the opposition’s proposal would require massive annual expenditure that could destabilize public finances.
“If the government had to pay for every household, there are 65,951 households. The premium per year for the government would be about $370 million. You can calculate it,” he said. “Now they’re saying they’re going to give every individual a $75,000 card.”
He argued that such a plan is financially unrealistic, given the size of Saint Lucia’s economy: “I want them to explain to the people of Saint Lucia how and where they’re gonna get the money to put $561 million, $561 million every year, $360 million in health insurance premiums.”
Jn Baptiste contrasted this with the government’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable and accessible healthcare without jeopardizing fiscal stability.
“All governments have been discussing this thing, but in their discussions, they’re saying that everybody who can afford health insurance should buy health insurance privately,” he explained.
The minister urged Saint Lucians to weigh the implications of competing health proposals carefully, stressing that the government’s measured approach seeks to balance compassion with economic responsibility.