Barbados’ health minister Donville Inniss says his country has not breached any human rights by limiting free public healthcare primarily to its citizens and permanent residents.

His statement at a news briefing on Saturday in Guyana follows the outcry created by a recent article in the Barbados Nation newspapers which stated that non-nationals can no longer access government medical treatment facilities on the island unless in cases of emergency or a public health threat.

Inniss, who was in Guyana for the 21st meeting of the CARICOM Council on Human and Social Development, (COHSOD) made his statement after COHSOD Chairman and Guyana’s health minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy responded to a reporter’s  question on the issue following the close of the meeting. 

According to the minister, the demand for resources to meet the health needs will never be enough but whatever is done should not encroach on the rights of citizens or non-citizens.

“My issue was whatever interventions you take must always maintain adherence to the human rights principles that we develop in our own countries and that we sign on to globally. This meeting did not address the specific case of Barbados though Barbados has also given the assurance that everyone will have access to healthcare,” Dr. Ramsammy stated.  

Inniss in responding said he noted the furore the issue has generated around the region and added that it was unfortunate that Barbados “continues to be the whipping boy.”

“I wish to make it abundantly clear that no statement made by myself as Minister of Health in Barbados has in any way sought to infringe on the basic human rights of any citizen, permanent resident, long term or short term visitor to Barbados,” Inniss said. 

The minister added that the issue being reported on is not a new policy since the island has always maintained that healthcare at public institutions was free only for citizens and permanent residents.

“All we simply reminding those in Barbados and those who may choose to visit Barbados  that publicly owned healthcare institutions will not be providing healthcare services to non-citizens and non-permanent residents free of cost, there’s no new policy.”

Inniss stated that should a visitor arrive at the Grantley Adams International Airport on holiday and falls ill that individual will get free emergency healthcare.

According to the minister, all residents in Barbados, long or short term, are entitled to free emergency services and free treatment for HIV and other contagious diseases identified by the health ministry. 

“Barbados has not been known to be anything less than a good partner in CARICOM; we have not broken any CARICOM rules, we really and truly just sought to ensure that our system of healthcare is not compromised in anyway, shape or fashion.”

He said his country was “very appreciative” of those individuals who have worked in Barbados and helped build the economy and that he believed that the issue is not one that should result in a “shouting match” across the region.

The policy as reported by the Nation states:

(i) No medical services, including diagnostic, clinical or pharmaceutical shall be provided to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents. However, medical services can be provided in circumstances of genuine emergency, pre-natal care, immunization, conditions of current public health significance and HIV/AIDS treatment; and (ii) Individuals who are neither citizens nor permanent residents shall be advised to seek medical treatment from a private sector provider of his or her choice.

The policy explicitly states that it is also applicable to individuals residing on the island on work permits.