UDP Senator Says Health System Failing Despite $50 Million Injection

United Democratic Party Senator Sheena Pitts examined a healthcare system she said is failing despite a 50-million-dollar injection of cash by the government.

Sheena Pitts, UDP Senator: “Ask yourselves, are we winning in the healthcare sector? Ask yourselves, since the government has committed $50 million for NHI, how is it that baby Khalil died of dehydration? How is it that our citizens are being subjected to buy syringes, gauze, medication? How is it that in Belize the structure for healthcare is clear to see that we do not have tertiary healthcare system accessible to Belizeans.”

Pitts added that decent care is readily available to a few but it’s out of reach to the working poor.

Sheena Pitts, UDP Senator: “The truth is is if you want decent healthcare, the best healthcare, what will you decide to do, Ms. Lopez? You would opt to go to a private institution, correct? And when you want to go to that private institution, it means you must have money, correct? Because private institutions mean private big money. How is it that the infrastructure of health is punishing poor people. How is it the infrastructure of health is set up in such a way that poor people cannot afford basic medical care, one, and tertiary medical care? And that is a serious problem. And so when you hear the Minister of Health and Wellness tell you, everything all right, when you hear the Prime Minister report that we are doing good in the medical field, I invite Belizeans to take a critical look at the landscape of what is going on around them because it’s not everybody that is winning. 

UDP Senator Sheena Pitts.