By Gina Bethel
Copyright znsbahamas
The founder and CEO of Bahamas Wellness Dr. Arlington Lightbourne today lauded government’s announcement of a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) for medicine and medical supplies, calling it “a step in the right direction of recognizing that good health care must be affordable for all.”
Dr. Lightbourne, who also serves as president of the growing health system, was responding to the announcement by Prime Minister Philip Davis that VAT was to be slashed in half from 10 to five percent on certain essential items. Among those were diapers, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
“One of the greatest deterrents to people seeking preventative medical care is their feeling that it is a cost they cannot afford. As a result, they wait until something is wrong — until they feel so ill, they need to see a doctor or have a symptom they can no longer ignore — to seek help. So, anything we can do to reduce costs and make it easier to seek care before an issue arises is a positive move,” he said. “Health care cannot just be good; it must be affordable for all.”
Dr. Lightbourne, speaking on behalf of Bahamas Wellness, praised the Island Cares Foundation for funding 100 free prostate cancer screenings in Eleuthera this month. “We hope initiatives like this, along with lower costs, will inspire more people to schedule annual checkups,” he said.
He noted that even the government’s decision to reduce VAT on diapers carries significant health benefits. Visiting pediatrician Dr. Carlos Thomas, one of the specialists aligned with Bahamas Wellness, has treated numerous cases of severe diaper rash. “In an effort to reduce spending, some parents will change their child’s diapers infrequently and this often leads to and is associated with severe diaper rash. This practice is not recommended as frequent diaper changes contribute to healthy skin,” Dr. Thomas explained.
“We encourage everyone to take advantage of the reduction in VAT, and we applaud the government of The Bahamas and the prime minister for his attention to the basics of medicine and health care,” says Dr. Lightbourne. “A country can only be productive when it has a healthy population and with the soaring costs of pharmaceuticals and the burden of treatments like dialysis The Bahamas pays a very high price for a largely unhealthy population. We must shift our focus toward overall wellness, quality of life and preventive care. These VAT reductions are a step in the right direction.”
Bahamas Wellness operates the only advanced urgent care medical facility on Eleuthera, known as ‘Eleuthera’s emergency room, supported by three satellite clinics including Spanish Wells, Rock Sound and Lower Bogue Eleuthera, in addition to a facility in Nassau. The health system’s mission is to place patients above profits, providing affordable and high-quality healthcare.
