Hospital Symposium Kicks Off in Belize City

The Belize Hospital Symposium 2015 commenced today at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. The event is the first of its kind in the jewel and was organized by Sagicor and Diversified Life Solutions (Belize) Limited. The two-day conference seeks to bring medical professionals, insurance agents and other stakeholders to the discussion table to look at the health system in Belize and the options available within the region for patients. But how does the insurance company factor in the health system? Well, in the past five years, Sagicor Life Inc has seen increased incidents of illnesses in areas of urology, oncology, cardiology and neurology, and sometimes that required medical care is not available locally. So the partners are looking at quality services available in neighboring countries and the region at rock bottom prices. 

Patricia Brathwaite-Marshall, Vice President, Group Insurance, Sagicor Life Inc

“Sagicor is hosting this symposium to expose the doctors and the plan administrators to affordable healthcare outside of Belize. Of course we have Belize represented here for the facilities that they do offer, but just in case the plan administrators or any of the insurers cannot find those services here, we are offering them an alternative that is affordable.”

Patricia Brathwaite-Marshall

Duane Moody

“Essentially this is not only for the policymakers, the health officials; it is also for the everyday man who seek services from Sagicor?”

Patricia Brathwaite-Marshall

“Well of course. We cover from the riches to the poorest, so obviously if anybody we cover seeks medical attention, then any one of the facilities we are showcasing today will be there for them. We do not invite everyone to our symposium because I don’t know if you know that, but there are some facilities in the U.S. where the cost of medical services is astronomical. We will not be showcasing those facilities because at the end of the day—I am covered by insurance and I hope you are covered by insurance—and we all have what is called lifetime maximum and if we use more of our lifetime maximum on one illness, then we have less to cover us as we go along. So how we spend the money is very important. So we have to make that spread as far and as wide as possible. So affordable care is the key phrase.”