Challenges in Belize’s Health Sector Highlighted in World Bank Report

 The health sector is another area that the World Bank expressed some concern.  Minister of State for Finance, Christopher Coye, spoke on this sector, and the challenges that the government faces.

Christorpher Coye, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance: “There are several findings and I encourage all stakeholders, media included, to take a look at the findings and the recommendations set forth in the public expenditure review because it does touch on these key areas. Health is a major priority sector for the government and once again in that instance Belize does spend relatively speaking compared to its neighbors and the region a high percentage of its total public expenditures on health but the results are also subpar in connection with that. We clearly have challenges in attracting and keeping personnel so we have to look at new ways how to keep and manage the HR for health but beyond that we also have to look at the the quality of health care that is provided and that’s set out in the review. That’s not to say that everything in there is for us, what may make sense but it does give an insight and we have options that we can consider as far as health care.”

The over-200-page report was publicly presented yesterday.