▶ 02 Local <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2, <strong>2012</strong> _ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ www.<strong>fp</strong>tci.com Labour wants staffing plans from businesses The Labour Department is asking businesses with 10 or more employees to submit up-to-date staffing plans by <strong>Feb</strong>. 29 as required. The staffing plans should outline details on key positions <strong>and</strong> those held by ex-pat staff, including where possible succession plans for suitably qualified <strong>Turks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Caicos</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>ers (Belongers) to fill ex-pat positions within the tenure of work permits. “The Labour Department is playing an integral role in keeping abreast with employers’ strategic <strong>and</strong> human resource planning process,” the department said in a Jan. 31 statement. Medical milestone opens door for medical tourism knee continued from page 2 two hospital facilities, contracted the surgeon through Global Med- Choices, a U.S.-based firm that offers global health care technology <strong>and</strong> health services. Bresch, who performed the nine surgeries, said they went tremendously well, <strong>and</strong> he was pleased with the experience. The visit was part of a larger plan to bring patients from outside the country to utilize the state-of-the-art hospital facilities for orthopedic surgeries. This is particularly important for the Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk facility, which is currently not used to its maximum potential. Renting the facilities to outside firms would create a potential new revenue stream for the cash strapped government. “The project has been in planning for some considerable time <strong>and</strong> has involved not just Inter- Health <strong>and</strong> surgeons, Global MedChoices, but also the (National Health Insurance Program) team <strong>and</strong> (government) representatives,” said Roger Cheesman, InterHealth Canada “Please note that this is important in our decision making process when considering applications for labour clearances. Your ability to forecast your (human resource) needs <strong>and</strong> provide succession plans will go a long way in developing a process that is mutually beneficial to both parties.” A document to help businesses prepare their plans is available at www.labour.tc. For further assistance <strong>and</strong> information, businesses should contact Keisha Williams, Human Resource Officer, Labour Department, Providenciales at 649-946-2801, extension 81519/81501. CEO. “Our thanks go to all who have contributed to this programme.” “The ministry congratulates the management of InterHealth Canada <strong>and</strong> will continue to build on this with the aim of making the TCI a major medical treatment centre for overseas clients <strong>and</strong> to develop its revenue potential in health tourism,” said Judith Campbell, permanent secretary of Health <strong>and</strong> Human Services. GlobalMed Choices CEO Collin Childress told the <strong>fp</strong> with its close proximity to the U.S., the TCI makes a great location for such medical tourism. With the growing cost of health care in the United States, GlobalMed Choices specializes in providing patients <strong>and</strong> insurance companies a global network with improved st<strong>and</strong>ard of care at a significantly reduced costs compared to U.S. costs. According to medicaltourism. com, a total knee replacement surgery in the United States can cost up to $50,000. While the representatives did not reveal how much the procedure cost in the TCI, experts say such procedures SIPT hearing postponed A sufficiency hearing set for <strong>Feb</strong>. 3 for former <strong>Turks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Caicos</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s government ministers, developers, lawyers <strong>and</strong> others facing corruption charges has been postponed until March 9. Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough has informed prosecutors <strong>and</strong> defendants that a hearing will be held <strong>Feb</strong>. 3, but it’s to h<strong>and</strong>le administrative matters only. A sufficiency hearing will be held for government prosecutors to convince a judge that there is enough evidence to proceed with trials. Former Deputy Premier Floyd Hall <strong>and</strong> his wife, Lisa, are charged with conspiracy to defraud the government for accepting bribes from developers. Richard Padgett is charged with bribery involving the aborted Third Turtle development, <strong>and</strong> Jak Civre is charged with bribery involving the Seven Stars resort. Floyd Hall’s brother, former government Minister Jeffrey Hall, <strong>and</strong> former Ministers Lillian outside the U.S. can save patients anywhere from 30-70 percent. That equates to potential savings of up to $35,000 for the patient, while driving new sources of revenue into the local economy. “We anticipate bringing down our own patients (to the TCI) … helping to generate revenue for the government,” Childress explained. The medical tourism industry worldwide is estimated to generate $15 billion in revenue, not including travel <strong>and</strong> accommodation costs. The GlobalMed Choices team visited the TCI several times over the past months in order to determine if the procedures could be done effectively here. The TCI is the first Caribbean country where GlobalMed is looking to add to their network, <strong>and</strong> based on the positive experience, it appears this will be a fruitful relationship. With nine successful surgeries under their belt, Bresch said, “We proved <strong>and</strong> validated it can be done.” Bresch said the br<strong>and</strong> new, state of the art hospital facilities make the TCI a great spot for the network. “Also the infrastructure is a big draw,” explained Dr. Bresch. “We love it here.” “The staff was amazing,” Bresch said of the nurses who assisted with the procedures. Resident nurses were required to learn additional skills in order to offer proper support to the visiting surgeon. “The nurses studied hard, <strong>and</strong> we were impressed with their enthusiasm <strong>and</strong> motivation,” Bresch <strong>fp</strong> Boyce <strong>and</strong> Samuel Been are charged with conspiring with others to defraud the government by distributing Crown l<strong>and</strong> for profit. Quentin Hall, who is Floyd <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Hall’s brother, <strong>and</strong> Earlson Robinson, who is Lillian Boyce’s brother, are charged with accepting proceeds from the transactions. Attorney Melbourne Wilson is charged with money laundering in those transactions. Attorney Chal Misick, brother of former Premier Michael Misick, is charged with laundering bribes allegedly paid by developers of Dellis Cay <strong>and</strong> Joe Grant’s Cay. Many of the details of the allegations came to light during a Commission of Inquiry in 2009 that led the U.K. to suspend elected government in this overseas territory, take control under a British governor <strong>and</strong> launch investigations into allegations of widespread corruption of elected ministers <strong>and</strong> others. said. Beyond the knee surgeries, Bresch expects total hip replacements <strong>and</strong> spinal surgery to be other potential options the company could offer to patients. As for Stubbs <strong>and</strong> the other eight patients who received new knees, they are all recovering from their surgeries as well as being a part of groundbreaking advances in the country’s medical industry. Medical tourism at a glance In 2011 more than a half a million Americans traveled outside the U.S. for medical treatment, a number that is expected to grow at a 25- 35 percent annual rate. A medical traveler is defined as anyone who travels across national borders for the purpose of receiving medical care, not including expatriates, tourists in need of emergency medical care, companions accompanying medical travelers, or multiple NIB disputes gov’s $10m claim NIB from page 1 fered to submit to binding arbitration to settle the amount owed from 1992, but the governor declined both offers. However, the governor has said that he has tried to negotiate with NIB but has been unable to reach an agreement. The governor has taken issue with NIB statements that he will be taking money from pensions, even though the money won’t come from funds that pay pensions. NIB conceded in its Jan. 30 statement that pension funds wouldn’t be affected, but it pointed out that 99 percent of its $20 million surplus is for death, dismemberment <strong>and</strong> disability. Only about $205,000 is set aside for worker injury claims, according to NIB. “There is certainly not $10 million available from the (worker injury fund) to cover the costs of this transfer, so the monies will need to come from the Death, Disability <strong>and</strong> Dismemberment Reserve Fund,” NIB’s statement said. Also this year, the governor announced an amnesty plan for those in arrears in NIB contributions, including millions of dollars the former appointments that occur over the course of one trip. It is estimated that the market size worldwide is close to $15 billion, not including patient travel or accommodations. The top procedures for medical tourists from the U.S. include cosmetic surgery, dentistry, orthopedics, reproductive, weight loss surgery <strong>and</strong> health screenings. Source: Patients Beyond Borders elected government has not paid for its employees. Those who pay up by <strong>Feb</strong>. 29 will not have to pay huge late penalties, which was estimated at $11.8 million from government <strong>and</strong> up to $4 million for the private sector. While the NIB’s $20 million surplus is earmarked for medical expenses, it can be transferred to cover shortages in the pension fund. NIB says that $20 million should be kept to cover the anticipated loss of money caused by the amnesty program or any other shortages in NIB funds. Eighty-year-old Mac Stubbs was one of nine local residents who received a total knee replacement from Dr. Bresch <strong>fp</strong><strong>Turks</strong> & <strong>Caicos</strong> First Publishing Ltd. P.O. 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