The Government has indicated that the free health-care policy could soon be extended to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

On Tuesday, the Government abolished user fees in all hospitals and health clinics except the UHWI.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer told the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Wednesday that the new policy could apply to the regional training facility in Mona, St Andrew, if the University Council approves the move.

Meeting later this year

"It is my understanding that the (University) Council will be meeting later this year, and it will be discussed there," Spencer said.

He was responding to a question from the People's National Party's representatives for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites.

Thwaites had asked whether free health care should not be accessible at the UHWI since taxpayers would be contributing $2.7 billion to its operations.

According to Spencer, the UHWI, which is the training institution for medical students attending the University of the West Indies, collects about $600 million per year in fees and it is a requirement that Caribbean countries subsidise the hospital.

Some $26.2 billion is budgeted to be spent by the Health Ministry this year, a significant portion of which would be used to cover the free health-care policy.