06th Feburary 2010
Time To Review St. Jude Hospital & NIC/Government Relations
By Modeste Downes

The triple death conflagration that visited St.Jude’s Hospital on the early morning of September 9 last, has imposed a huge financial burden on an already virtually comatose economy, and left hospital administrators and staff nursing emotional and professional discomforts. Despite the inconveniences complained of by the sporting fraternity and other politically motivated naysayers, it is an absolute blessing in disguise that the George Odlum Stadium (some say white elephant) was instantly available to temporarily fill the void. By no means an ideal substitute, but staff are undoubtedly adjusting to the several inconveniences, like inadequate space, constant shifting around of people and equipment and/or furniture, that is only secondary to delivering the quotidian care and service to the sick and dying.
But life being the unpredictable thing that it is, even the misfortunes it occasionally brings down on us can provide the impetus for much desired changes in our lives or institutions. As it is with a complacent government losing a turn at national elections; or the 1948 Castries fire; or the international financial crisis that has led to stricter regulations for the banking sector, for instance. Issuing from this principle, or law of nature if you prefer, government has been swift in committing resources, and private individuals and institutions, both at home and abroad, have been demonstrating a tremendous amount of goodwill and are contributing voluntarily in cash and kind, which will culminate, hopefully, in the reconstruction of a hospital plant superior to the one we have lost.
It is precisely in the context of contemplating reconstruction that I was moved to consider an administrative aspect of that exercise, which relates to the Emma Hippolyte quote above.
It appears that notwithstanding the continuous efforts by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) at membership and public education, there are still lots of misinformation and misconceptions about what the NIC is and does. During a recent visit to the George Odlum makeshift facility (on behalf of an out-patient), I had my education adjusted in so far as NIC/St.Jude’s relations. While I was aware of government responsibility for salaries, I was under the popular misconception that the Corporation paid out a grant to the hospital toward the servicing of the medical needs of its retiree contributors. It turns out, however, that that grant is issued to the government treasury, which in turn attempts to respond to periodic statements from the hospital.