Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterSOME LOCAL medical doctors are refusing to treat policemen and women who are injured on the job because of the continued tardiness of the Ministry of National Security to pay medical bills.
In one case, a Kingston-based consultant orthopaedic surgeon who is owed more than $400,000 in accumulated bills since 2002, is insisting that he will not be treating any injured policemen and women until he is paid the outstanding sum.
In addition, the Ministry has over the past three years accumulated more than $1 million in
debt to the Police Federation, which oftentimes fills the gap by paying the medical bills of members injured on the job.
NO MONEY
Woman Corporal Arleen McBean, welfare secretary at the Federation, told The Gleaner that the organisation has been trying since September last year to get the Ministry to pay up even a portion of the money owed to it, but has consistently been told "there is no money".
According to her, the Ministry's tardiness has put a strain on the police Welfare Fund, which, she said, is primarily designed to look after policemen and women who suffer from chronic illnesses including cancer, and other non-duty-related illnesses.
"You have some medical doctors who call the Federation from time to time to enquire about payments from the Ministry of National Security or to make complaints about the Ministry," she said.
She added that in some cases, doctors have given the Ministry ultimatums, warning that if it does not pay up the outstanding sums, they would refuse to see police personnel in the future.
"Most doctors are not accepting letters of undertaking from the Ministry of National Security because of past experiences probably with themselves or another doctor regarding the tardy payment of money owed to them," Woman Corporal McBean said.
NO POLICY
Contacted for comment, Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, said police personnel occasionally incur health-related expenses beyond the Blue Cross coverage.
He added that while there was no policy compelling the Government to honour the excess fees, the Ministry usually responds favourably to requests for assistance in these circumstances.
"It should be noted that this response is not limited to work-related illnesses," he said. "The Ministry has responded to requests covering a range of illnesses, including treatment overseas."
Mr. Scott added that these requests were often presented in emergency situations, noting that the Ministry has always tried to be responsive.
"Depending on the amount involved, on occasion, Cabinet approval has to be sought," he explained.
The Welfare Fund was created by the Police Federation, which represents rank and file members: the Police Officers' Association, the Island Special Constabulary Force's Officers' Association, and the United District Constables Association.
However, money from the fund, which is deducted from the salaries of policeman and women, mostly go towards the medical bills of members injured in the line of duty, because of the reported shortage of funds at the Ministry.
According to Mr. Scott, a total of approximately $10 million has been paid out for some 34 cases since April 2003.
