P.M. Addresses Inadequate Monthly Subvention to K.H.M.H.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Government’s monthly subvention to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is close to two and a half million dollars. Almost one hundred percent of those funds go directly towards covering the hospital’s wage bill, according to C.E.O. Chandra Cansino. And while, as an authority, the hospital’s management is obligated to access its own resources, with millions of dollars in fees owed to the K.H.M.H. for service delivered, their operational budget is strained. So, is the Briceño administration able to increase the hospital’s monthly subvention? That’s what we asked Prime Minister Briceño.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“You have to remember that the U.D.P. government left them in a financial mess. They left owing them millions of dollars. It is our government that has been paying off those bills. It is important to look at the sustainability of K.H.M.H. and we have no problem in having a hard look at what needs to be done. That is what we are doing and it all takes time. We had to be able to save the Belize dollar. We had to stabilize government’s expenditure, we had to see how we can grow the economy and get people back to work. Now that we kind settling, we still not fully out of the woods, we have to take a hard look at all the needs that we have, because the needs are great in this country. But we have to make sure we have the funding for those needs. That is why we have been putting so much effort and so much interest and work in ensuring we can grow the economy so that then we can be able to afford to meet most if not all the needs of the people.”

Paul Lopez

“But at this time there is no possibly of increasing that subvention from two point four million?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Who said that? Who said that?”

Paul Lopez

“I am asking”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We have not said anything, we just have to take a look and see how best we can meet the needs of K.H.M.H.”