Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

operates under a

two-tier healthcare Two-tier healthcare is a situation in which a basic government-provided healthcare system provides basic care, and a secondary tier of care exists for those who can pay for additional, better quality or faster access. Most countries have both p ...

system. That is, there is the existence of both private and public facilities. The Ministry of Health is responsible for leading the health sector. The service provision aspect of public healthcare has been devolved to newly created entities, the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). Responsibility for the provision of healthcare services in Trinidad and Tobago was devolved from the Ministry of Health to Regional Health Authorities under the Regional Health Authorities Act No. 5 in 1994. While the Ministry of Health does not directly run health facilities, it is required to play a key role in ensuring that they are properly run, by setting policies, goals and targets for Regions based on assessment of real health needs. This is the main role of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry also allocates resources to the RHAs to finance their operations. The Ministry of Health is shifting its focus to concentrate on policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation, regulation, financing and research. Citizens can access free health care at public healthcare facilities where health insurance is not required. However, the government is developing the National Health Service in which a package of services is to be determined, as well as a financing strategy.

Public and private

Public Healthcare is free to everyone in Trinidad and Tobago and is paid for by the Government and taxpayers. Healthcare services are provided on a

walk-in Walk In can refer to: *Walk In, 1997 Hong Kong film directed by Herman Yau * ''The Walk-In'' (TV series), a British TV crime drama series * "The Walk In" (''The Americans''), an episode of the US TV series ''The Americans'' * Walk-in (concept) * '' ...

basis. There are a few major hospitals throughout the country as well as smaller health centers and clinics located regionally throughout. Several major hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago are: #

Port of Spain General Hospital Port of Spain General Hospital is a public hospital in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The main building was once a Colonial hospital that began construction in 1854, using local stone and imported brick facing to provide a Classical style f ...

located in the country's capital of Port of Spain. It is a major trauma centre in the Caribbean. #

San Fernando General Hospital San Fernando General Hospital is located in the City of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. It is considered as the main trauma unit for the Southern region of the Island of Trinidad. This Institution falls under the South West Regional Health ...

located in the City of

San Fernando San Fernando may refer to: People *Ferdinand III of Castile (c. 1200–1252), called ''San Fernando'' (Spanish) or ''Saint Ferdinand'', King of Castile, León, and Galicia Places Argentina *San Fernando de la Buena Vista, city of Greater Buenos ...

. # San Fernando Teaching Hospital located in the City of

. #

Sangre Grande Hospital Sangre may refer to: * Sangre, a fictional Earth-like planet in the science fiction novel ''The Men in the Jungle'' by Norman Spinrad * Sangre (comics), the de facto leader of the Marvel Comics supervillain group Children of the Vault *''Sangre (fi ...

located in Sangre Grande, Trinidad. #

Point Fortin Hospital Point or points may refer to: Places * Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland * Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States * Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland * Poin ...

Eric Williams Medical Science Complex The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

located in Champ Fleurs, Trinidad. # Scarborough General Hospital located in Signal Hill,

Tobago Tobago () is an List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, island and Regions and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago, ward within the Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located northeast of the larger island of Trini ...

These hospitals are aided by many DHF'S (District Health Facilities) located throughout the country.

Reform

The Ministry of Health is mandated to provide a functioning healthcare system to benefit all citizens. This had led to the reforming of the entire healthcare system in the country. Recently, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has launched CDAP (Chronic Disease Assistance Programme). The Chronic Disease Assistance Programme provides citizens with free prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical items to combat the following health conditions: *Diabetes *Asthma *Cardiac Diseases *Arthritis *Glaucoma *Mental Depression *High Blood Pressure *Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate) *Epilepsy *Hypercholesterolemia *Parkinson’s disease *Thyroid diseases There are over 250 pharmacies throughout the country that provide medications through CDAP. All citizens of Trinidad & Tobago are eligible. There are no age restrictions or exceptions.

References

{{reflist Health in Trinidad and Tobago

Public and private

Reform

See also

References