Doctors Dispute Rate Increase Figures

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Health News

Friday, 10 February 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Doctors are disputing recent information from the Statistics Division that said medical expenses in Antigua & Barbuda have increased by 4.3 percent.

According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January 2012, there was an increase in the average fees for medical practitioners and surgeons from $125 to $143.75.

But senior practitioners are not buying it. Caribarena.com spoke with medical experts on Thursday who said it would take a lot more research for the Division to make that determination.

Dr Joseph "Joey" John, of Medical Surgical Association, said doctors’ fees represent a “very small” part of overall medical costs, especially when tests, drugs, equipment, hospitalisation, and even education are factored in.

“That doesn’t sound reasonable,” he said, adding that from his perspective, a lot more data would be needed to make such a determination.

Caribarena.com contacted the Statistics Division for more information on how it had concluded that a 3.75 percent increase in fees could result in a 4.3 percent rise across the board, but none of the officers was able to point us in the right direction.

Another practitioner, who asked not to be named, said based on an overall look at medical costs in the country, doctors’ fees represent a small part of it.

The doctor has called for the Statistics Division to release more information for public scrutiny.

Attempts to obtain an official comment from the Antigua & Barbuda Medical Council on lower High Street were unsuccessful.

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