Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: The health system, including the medication available to people with serious illnesses, such as epilepsy (2002-July 2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 12 July 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | VCT42844.FE |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: The health system, including the medication available to people with serious illnesses, such as epilepsy (2002-July 2004), 12 July 2004, VCT42844.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c701c.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided by a nursing tutor from the School of Nursing, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines College, in Kingstown, during a 2 July 2004 telephone interview.
The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides health services at the secondary and tertiary levels. Health care is given to people with chronic illnesses, such as epilepsy, at health clinics and at general and district hospitals. After a person receives care for a chronic or serious illness, follow-up care is provided by a nurse. Medication is available for people who have epilepsy, but they must pay for it-although the system offers free diagnostic exams, patients must pay for medical treatments, including prescriptions and elective surgery.
A deficiency in the system is the lack of specialists. For example, the country has no neurologists. This means that people who have chronic illnesses must go outside the country for specialized care. If a person is unable to pay for the required care, the ministry of social affairs can assist that individual. One way of helping would be to place an advertisement in the daily newspapers in order to ask for donations to those who are unable to pay medical fees. However, no patient is refused emergency care if he or she is unable to pay for the care. According to the tutor, anyone who works and earns a monthly income of $400 to $600 should be able to cover the costs of health care.
During a 17 June 2004 telephone interview, the coordinator of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA) said that the hospitals provide care and medication to people who have epilepsy. Those individuals can also obtain medication in pharmacies and through Internet sites. The coordinator specified that a shortcoming in the system is the waiting time to obtain care. Sometimes, people suffering from a disability will go to Barbados to obtain a greater variety of services. Like the tutor from the School of Nursing, the coordinator said that no one who needs emergency care will be refused if he or she is unable to pay for it.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) indicates in its cultural profile on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that "people must pay user fees for care, but prenatal, postnatal and family planning services are free" (Canada n.d.). Health care is free for children under 17 years old (ibid.). CIC specifies that "poorer families, the elderly and the unemployed pay lower user fees or are treated for free" (ibid.). Please consult the electronic attachment for further information on the medical system in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Please also consult the following document on the Internet site of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for further general information on health care provided by the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines government: Attempts to obtain additional information from PAHO and the Ministry of Health in Kingstown were unsuccessful within the time constraints for this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. n.d. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). "Les soins médicaux." Nursing tutor, School of Nursing, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines College, Kingstown. 2 July 2004. Telephone interview.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 2002. "Regional Core Health Data System Country Health Profile 2002: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines." St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA), Kingstown. 17 June 2004. Telephone interview with the coordinator.
Additional Sources Consulted
The Europa World Year Book 2003. 2003
Internet sites, including: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Department of State of the United States, Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, ReliefWeb, SVGHRA, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),World Health Organization, World News Connection
Attachment
Canada. n.d. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). "Les soins médicaux."
