1 week Ago By Dr Stephen Ramroop
As our country prepares for either governance by the ruling PNM or another stint by the UNC, we must recognise the trends in the healthcare systems that would impact us and what we as a population need in the upcoming years in this regard. Political manifestos suggest there are plans for the State healthcare system and that if the existing PNM regains governance, healthcare services would be improved from what exists now under a new prime minister with the same Minister of Health; or if the UNC is elected, there would be some changes from the existing systems, as said in their proposed statements. The situation is not as simple because roughly half the population will vote equally for UNC and PNM regardless of their experiences in healthcare delivery over the past years and what the UNC proposes to improve.
In other words, people will vote the political party they are aligned to, and nothing else matters much. This places the burden on the voters in the so-called marginal seats who have the power to decide by their vote which party assumes leadership in the coming years. Therefore, they must sift the politics from the advertised messages and propaganda, and try to assess the ability of either the existing PNM under a new PM or a UNC government to deliver what is needed in healthcare in 2025 and beyond.
Ernst & Young (2025) states that with the current trends in the global economy, and the emerging geo-politics, value-based care is likely to become the predominant model for any state that intends to improve its healthcare systems, and this will drive unprecedented consolidation and integration across the sector. We may be seeing this as we look at what is happening with our pharmaceutical companies in Trinidad and Tobago. Another trend will be for the RHAs and private healthcare institutions to opportunistically use AI in care models, mitigating clinical workforce shortages or finance, and accelerating the consumerisation of health.
We will have to consider privatisation of certain services such as radiology, emergency services and oncology, etc. Technology advancements are likely to pave the way for new breakthrough therapies to be developed that can aid in reducing national health expenditure growth. What does this mean for us? Wastage and redundancy will need to be curtailed and simple healthcare delivery systems need strengthening.
Shortage of needles, syringes, medications and supplies must not be tolerated. Easy access to healthcare, either virtual or physical, with a tangible reduction in key waiting times, must be mandatory for all public and private healthcare organisations. Medical records and sharing confidential information across public and private systems must be protected by legislation and cybersecurity tools.
Integration of healthcare systems and standardisation of risk-based systems must be done, especially in the public institutions governed by the RHAs and the County Medical Officers of Health and the Chief Medical Officer. Primary healthcare must be streamlined, and made universally equitable and delivered in a timely manner, especially to our vulnerable populations. The existing healthcare system does not need significant change but it needs consolidation, integration and standardisation, and a massive degree of qualified management skills and competencies at all levels of the organisation.
Healthcare expenditures will consume a greater share of our economy over the next ten years. New utilisation, cost trends and market forces that have taken shape in the post-pandemic and now Trump era are creating new market opportunities for established and disruptive market players, tariffs on medications, etc. RHAs will need to be discerning in making different capital investments in enabling technology, the provider workforce, priority markets and diversified quality outputs.
These actions will position them for greater success as AI, value-based care and new breakthrough therapies shape the global and regional markets over the next decade. Such market developments have the potential to enhance the value and patient-centricity of care provided by any government to our population with increasingly complex and challenging public health needs (Ernst & Young, 2025). Now more than ever, those voters who hold the key to the governance of our country must choose wisely as we need to understand the reality of healthcare needs over the next ten years.
—Author Dr Stephen Ramroop holds an MBA in healthcare management; past MD, SWRHA; past CEO, ODPM..
