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  • In 2021, approximately $125M was spent on health care – Budget Statement Presentation 2022

In 2021, approximately $125M was spent on health care – Budget Statement Presentation 2022

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The viability of the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) and the challenges it faced during the last two years were placed on display during the 2022 Budget Presentation.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne disclosed that the past two years proved particularly challenging for financing health care because of increased demands for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decline in revenue by 20percent during the same period further exacerbated the situation.

PM Browne noted that in 2021, MBS spent an additional $8.0 million on pharmaceuticals and medical supplies required by the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre to cope with an increased level of infections brought on by COVID-19.

“This additional spending, together with a much lower level of contributions from workers and companies in the private sector, created severe challenges across the health-care system. That funding gap of $8 million in 2021 was covered by this Government just as it was in 2020.” Prime Minister Browne stated during his 2022 Budget Statement Presentation.

The Prime Minister continued by indicating that in 2021, approximately $125 million was spent on health care, financed by MBS and Central Government, compared with $115 million spent in 2020.

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Speaking in the House of Parliament, PM Browne stated, “our Government astutely prioritized its spending, despite its own reduced revenues, to ensure that everyone in our society, and more especially pensioners and vulnerable persons, were able to continue to get access to medical attention and medicines.”

Browne reminded the House that the government continues to promote and protect the best interest of the people.

While health care remains a key priority for the government, PM Browne indicated that it is the government’s short-term goal to offer Universal Health Care for the entire population and to transform MBS into a National Health Insurance company.

“We have experienced setbacks because of the pandemic, but we continue to engage the UWI-Health Economics Unit and other stakeholders to assist us in completing the technical aspects of the work that will allow us to fully implement a National Health Insurance system by 2023,” Browne stated.

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]