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VIDEO STORY: Healthcare Prices Take a Giant Leap – Are Our Wallets Ready?

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Residents are experiencing higher consultation fees at their private doctors. As with any price increase, not everyone is pleased with the rise.

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This story was first published by Antigua News on May 23, 2025: antigua.news/2025/05/23/video-story-healthcare-prices-take-a-giant-leap-are-our-wallets-ready. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

Shermain Bique-Charles

About the author

Shermain Bique-Charles is an accomplished journalist with over 24 years of dynamic experience in the industry. Renowned for her exceptional storytelling and investigative skills, she has garnered numerous awards that highlight her commitment to journalistic integrity and excellence. Her work not only informs but also inspires, making her a respected voice in the field.

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Comments (18)

  • Faithful National #1 May 23, 2025, 9:11 PM

    Yet we cuss and abuse the care and consultation we receive at MSJMC.
    Seriously though, our private doctors here are extortionists!!! Imagine going to a doctor to SEEK ADVICE , a second opinion about a medical procedure. Average time spent with the doctor 6 minutes: average cost: $300! Lots of people risk dying prematurely simply because private doctor fees are soooo high. Ridiculous and sad!!!
    Reply

    • Antigua Surf May 23, 2025, 10:33 PM

      Faithful National. Do we receive care at MSJMC? The only people who actually get care are the ones who are top class. Like Max Hurst. I’m pretty Sure Lionel got the best of care when he was hospitalized the other day. I remember when I use to work at the hospital, there was this one time a VIP person was coming and the Ward Sister was in such a rush. That she was even telling a Goddard Catering working “we need a food right now, there’s a Private person coming in, some knight, a VIP. Call and get a food up here now”. Compare this to the treatment they gave patients like those in 493 or 489 or even 401 on the surgical side of the hospital. They give them attitude. All like “I’ll call the kitchen to see if they can bring something for you, if not your family would have to bring something or you wait until lunch”. So people must complain. Doctor fees are getting high and the public hospital is killing us.
      Reply

    • Bert May 24, 2025, 6:55 AM

      It seem as if Antigua Surf is a ward aid or a cleaner at the hopstial. How you so specific with these details? But I see your point and you are correct. Now go back to work
      Reply

  • Anderson Matthew May 23, 2025, 9:29 PM

    These are some of the trials that people around us go through. And these are some of the topics some media houses are afraid to address. Power to you Antigua.news. everybody is thinking it…talking about it amount their friends…family…associates…and no one will come forward. Great work. Your stsrs are aligning. This media house is small but like we say in Antigua…they thalawah!
    Reply

    • Lyndon Jamea May 23, 2025, 9:41 PM

      MSJMC sucks..I sat there from.7pm to 8am with chest pains. They told me I had avid reflux. I had to take out a loan to go to a private doctor to find out my heart was sick. So we have to go to these private doctors. We may have to sell organs to repay them…but they are necessary
      Reply

  • Anonymous May 23, 2025, 9:37 PM

    So Tham don’t care about no one image getting paid at $400 per week and doctors charge $300 for just a check up that only 3 minutes or less
    Reply

    • Stone May 24, 2025, 3:53 AM

      right now I am fighting with cancer in the worst way and I am waiting for a medical procedure to be done so that I can be treated since last month. this month has one more week to go and I have not received an appointment date yet. in the mean time the cancer is progressing
      Reply

    • Teacher for Life May 24, 2025, 4:17 AM

      Stone, prayers for your healing and that you receive an appointment real soon. In the mean time pray. I’m not a doctor, but have done some research and know some in your position who have successfully used the following: eliminate sugar from your diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, limit or eliminate meat and processed foods; eat 3 bitter almond kernels daily, drink soursop tea and eat the fruit, get plenty of sunshine( vitamin D), grounding..have your bare feet connected to grass, dirt or sand…not concrete, eat an alkalibe diet, think positive thoughts and reduce / eliminate stress. Have the tumor(s) removed. The choice is yours, but if offered chemo or radiation afterwards I would refuse since they tend to kill healthy cells and hasten ones demise. Again, I am not a doctor. Do your research and make your own decisions.
      Reply

  • Ben Simmons May 23, 2025, 9:40 PM

    Based on what I just listened to it seems that we can’t even afford to get sick. Pun intended
    Reply

  • Rhea May 23, 2025, 10:35 PM

    Either way you put it we are going to die. Doctor fees rising along with licensing fees and all of that. Soon from now we won’t even be able to afford Gods free air. Imagine feeling sick but don’t have the money for doctors consultations. Tho I feel consultation should be a free process. But hey.
    Reply

  • harris May 23, 2025, 10:41 PM

    Like said, these hospitals waste time, and people don’t like to go there. Sometimes, these hopsitals refer us to our private doctors.. so we end up there somehow…with people can hardly buy food we might as well die if we are sick
    Reply

  • Wendy May 24, 2025, 3:23 AM

    Thanks Antigua.news. Only you deal seriously with social issues in Antigua and Barbuda.
    Reply

  • Devorn Carter May 24, 2025, 6:56 AM

    This country is becoming the heartache of many. If we focus on how hard things are becoming we will forever need to pay that high bill at the doctor. Take the problems to
    Jesus
    Reply

  • Apex Jones May 24, 2025, 7:20 AM

    Antigua.news we live in an EC country next time please use the relevant currency.
    Anyway. Yes the hospital is a viable option but when u take your child there at 6 and had to leave at 1am without seeing the Dr how viable is that?
    When one Dr in shift or sometimes NO Dr at all how viable is that?
    The hospital needs a shake up or maybe better monitoring to ensure the people that our money paying are at work to execute their duties
    Reply

  • Juju Bee May 24, 2025, 7:23 AM

    What????? Their justification is not justifying at all. I can understand if medication go up but what does the tariffs and increase in cost of living have to do with a consultation.
    Trump put tariffs on words too?
    All you too dam wicked some of all you. That’s one of the reasons people just avoid Dr”s all together cause they just can’t afford it and the hospital is a waste of time most of the times
    Reply

  • Unruly One May 24, 2025, 8:39 AM

    This is something that price control should look into but that not going happen. I understand it is service oriented but these doctors have no care for the common man.
    Reply

  • Brenda May 24, 2025, 4:35 PM

    Listen. People need the Lord. Medical professionals will fail us. Money cannot buy health. If money could buy health people with money would live forever. Doctors will raise their fees because a man will do anything to save his own life. People are afraid to die and these doctors are using that to get peoples money
    Reply

  • Issues Broda May 25, 2025, 5:28 PM

    I silently have suffered under the hands of doctors. They cannot save your life. Yet they want to take every dollar from you. After they are done with you…you cannot even afford a casket
    Reply

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