In a recent House of Assembly session, Deputy Speaker and At-Large Representative Hon. Stacy Mather posed a question to Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Vincent Wheatley regarding expenditures on healthcare through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.
Mather specifically requested the names and cumulative amounts paid to the top five local healthcare partners from January 2019 to January 2024.
Notably, Minister Wheatley opted not to disclose provider names directly in the House. However, he provided cumulative amounts paid to the top five healthcare providers.
The total NHI payments to these top five local healthcare providers over the five-year period amounted to roughly $121 million.
Following Wheatley’s response, Mather expressed concern about the sustainability of such expenses and inquired about any initiatives to reduce these costs. Mather noted that one healthcare organization alone had received close to $52 million over five years and asked if the Ministry had plans to redirect more business to the BVI Health Services Authority (BVHSA).
Minister Wheatley acknowledged the importance of Mather’s concerns and confirmed that the Ministry is actively working on strategies to optimize healthcare spending.
He emphasized that cost management is a priority for the Ministry, acknowledging that healthcare expenses are substantial and can escalate if left unchecked.