Trinidad and Tobago Health Insurance

Trinidad and Tobago is a archipelago state comprised of two main islands and the most southerly of the Caribbean Islands. In 1962 Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from the British Empire. The islands have vast oil and gas reserves creating one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean region. The country is also the hub for financial services in the Caribbean region and has a growing tourism industry.

Medical care across Trinidad and Tobago is limited and healthcare facilities are restricted in the scope of care which can be provided. Privately operated healthcare facilities normally offer a better standard of healthcare compared to the publicly run medical facilities. It is likely that a patient will need to be air-lifted to a nearby country with a medical centre of excellence, when requiring treatment for serious illness or injury. It is strongly recommended, therefore, for all foreign visitors to Trinidad and Tobago to take out Trinidadian and Tobagonian international health insurance to ensure they can meet the financial cost of healthcare services while overseas. It is also common practice for a foreign patient to prove their ability to pay for healthcare services before being treated, including emergency situations in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago is entrusted with the leadership role and has overall responsibility for the country's health sector. The Trinidadian and Tobagonian ministry of health will set policies, standards and goals, which will then be implemented by Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). The RHAs are government entities, which have the responsibility for the direct provisioning of healthcare services in Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Health’s specific role is to develop, plan, monitor, fund and regulate the health sector.

In 1994 the Regional Health Authorities Act No. 5 was passed, which devolved the provision of healthcare services in Trinidad and Tobago from the Ministry of Health to the then newly created Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). The inception of the RHAs was to promote and deliver a client-focused, cost-effective and efficient healthcare system, which provided quality and equitable healthcare services. There are a total of five RHAs. These cover the North West Regional Health Authority, the North Central Regional Health Authority, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the South West Regional Health Authority and the Tobago Regional Health Authority. Each regional authority is entrusted with the provision of public healthcare services in their allotted districts and must implement the national healthcare policies set out by the Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Health will assign policy agendas to the RHAs, which will manage and implement these at a local level. The Ministry of Health will allocate funds to the RHAs, which will need to budget for their healthcare operations/services. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have free access to public healthcare facilities; non-citizens are required to pay for all healthcare services received while in the country.

The future expansion of the healthcare system in Trinidad and Tobago is a fundamental objective of the government, with the aim of bringing it up to the standard of a developed nation. Currently the government of Trinidad and Tobago is working towards a strategic plan to bring the country to the status of a developed nation by 2020. The vision for the nation includes the improvement of the healthcare system. The focus is on advancing the quality of healthcare services and, in turn, improving the standard of health of the population through the delivery of better quality healthcare services, including the overall development of the whole healthcare system and network in Trinidad and Tobago. However, the current healthcare system is facing challenges, with the quantity, competencies and quality of healthcare services needing significant improvement.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is preparing to introduce a National Health Service (NHS) in 2012, which is intended to provide an essential package of healthcare services to all eligible citizens of the country at any affiliated public and/or private health institution in Trinidad and Tobago. An eligible patient will be allowed to select the healthcare facilitate of their choice.

The health sector network in Trinidad and Tobago consists of 9 hospitals - three tertiary level hospitals, three district hospitals and three specialized long-stay hospitals. There are more than 100 primary healthcare centres and community clinics. There is also a healthy private health sector, which is comprised of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, laboratories and diagnostic services. Patients from other countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will seek tertiary medical care in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in the areas of cardiac and oncology surgery.

The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) includes the capital of Trinidad and Tobago - the Port of Spain - which is the most densely populated area in the country, with a population of approximately 500,000 people requiring cover for public healthcare services. Part of the NWRHA healthcare network is the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, which is a designated healthcare facility for the provision of in-patient and out-patient treatment. The hospital is equipped for a range of surgical procedures, accident and emergency services and has an intensive care unit.

The Scarborough Hospital is situated in Tobago in the town of Scarborough and is a public healthcare facility. The hospital provides services covering accident & emergencies, surgical procedures, radiology, paediatrics, maternity and pharmacy with in-patient and out-patient facilities. The Scarborough Hospital provides some of the most comprehensive healthcare services and treatments in the country.

Private healthcare providers are predominately located in the main urbanized areas, such as Port of Spain and San Fernando. Private health facilities like the Adventist Hospital and the Southern Medical Clinic offer a variety of healthcare services for in-patient and out-patient treatment. In general, the standard of healthcare service and treatment is better in the private healthcare sector than the publicly run healthcare facilities, with a stronger emphasis of patient care.

Visitors need to remember that standards in either the private or public healthcare facilities are limited in the provision of medical treatment which can be provided, although the standard of basic care is adequate and should be able to meet a patient’s initial needs. In both the private and public healthcare facilities, a foreign patient is likely to be asked to prove they can meet the cost of healthcare services. Therefore, it is important to insure you have access to funds readily available or proof of private medical insurance, which will cover the medical costs incurred.

There is an unusual requirement for patients needing a blood transfusion in a Trinidad and Tobago medical facility, which is they may be asked to pre-arrange for an equal quantity of blood to be donated to the healthcare facility. Also, in the past, there have been strikes held by medical professionals working in both the public and private healthcare sectors, which affected healthcare resources in Trinidad and Tobago and the delivery of healthcare services at the time. Foreign visitors should be aware of these potential situations, which can hinder the provision of healthcare services and the accessibility of medical treatment.

Dengue fever is prevalent to the Caribbean region - this can occur all year round. It is a mosquito-borne infection which is transmitted to a human when bitten by an infected mosquito. The risk of mosquitoes carrying the disease is heightened during the day-time hours when the mosquito normally feeds. There is no vaccine to offset the dengue fever infection, and travelers to Trinidad and Tobago are urged to cover themselves as much as possible and use insect repellent as a precautionary measure against infected mosquitoes.

Ciguatera poisoning is a food-borne illness caused by eating certain reef fish, which are contaminated with toxins. Ciguatera poisoning commonly occurs from eating such reef fish as snapper, grouper and barracuda. The toxin may remain in the fish even when it has been cooked thoroughly. If you are in Trinidad and Tobago and come down with ciguatera poisoning it is advisable to seek treatment from a doctor.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is working towards making significant improvements to the national healthcare system, with the clear target of gaining status as a developed nation with quality healthcare standards by 2020; although the health sector in the country has flaws currently and is only able to provide sub-standard medical treatment and healthcare services. This sometimes requires patients to be sent to another country for treatment due to the limitations inherent with the Trinidadian and Tobagonian healthcare system. While basic healthcare services are adequate, visitors should ensure their international health insurance for Trinidad and Tobago covers them for medical air ambulances and medical evacuation in case these services are required.

Trinidad and Tobago International Health Insurance

If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Trinidad and Tobago, international health insurance plans will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Trinidad and Tobago. Should you require further information on Trinidad and Tobago, international medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now.