Former Deputy Premier attends World Medical Tourism Conference in Florida
Charlestown, Nevis ( Monday, October 12, 2015) Former Deputy Premier of Nevis, Mr. Hensley Daniel recently attended the 8th World Medical Tourism Global Healthcare Conference held in Orlando, Florida September 27-30, 2015.
Mr. Daniel who was a former Minister of Health during the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) led Administration, was invited to speak at this conference on Investment in Medical Tourism as part of the Princeton Health Care team.
Recognized as the World’s most comprehensive health care conference and trade show; over 3000 participants were drawn from insurance companies, wellness centers, medical technology firms and government administrations. Attendees represented over 100 nations from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, the South Pacific, Asia and the Caribbean.
According to Mr. Daniel, it was important to be at the conference to gather information, meet and network with persons who can assist Nevis to attain a more productive and progressive health care system for its residents.
When asked why the interest in Medical Tourism, Mr. Daniel explained that the low cost of medical procedures is the number one reason why people go offshore for medical treatments. The savings range between 30% and 80% of the cost that you would normally pay in the USA. “Although the treatments are inexpensive, in most cases surgical procedures are performed by North American or European trained experts who are using high quality technology. In addition, the lower costs of malpractice, insurance and administration also contribute to the low prices of overseas medical procedures,” commented Daniel.
He also noted of his NRP led governments plan and ground breaking of a cosmetology center on Nevis, which the present CCM Administration did not continue. Daniel stated that the cosmetology center would have brought over 100 new jobs to many local persons here on the island especially local nurses, contractors and clerks.
While in government, Mr. Daniel made tremendous strides in the Health care industry on Nevis. He partnered with overseas hospitals in Panama, Cuba and Florida- USA to get low–cost or complimentary medical attention for residents of Nevis for services not offered on the island.
It must also be noted that Daniel obtained a well needed dialysis unit with two machines on Nevis which arrived on the island after the NRP lost the government. Today the two machines remain unused and rotting away on the hospital grounds in scorching heat for over two years while residents who had renal failure died or had to leave the island for permanent medical attention.
“The dialysis unit could have brought about medical tourism also, as persons with renal failure from regional islands including Montserrat, St. Eustatius and Saba who do not have a unit and do not always get appointments with Anguilla and Antigua would have an opportunity to get quality care not too far from home,” commented Daniel.