While he was on the LOVE talk show this morning, the Health Minister was also asked about reports that have emerged which allege that the public purse was used to pay the medical bills of the private citizen, Ingrid Vega.
She's the wife of the deceased Corozal Bay Area Representative, David "Dido" Vega, and the sister-in-law to the current Area Rep., Elvia Vega-Samos. Reports are that a bill was generated on December 24th, 2020 for Ingrid Vega at the Belize Healthcare Partners Hospital, which amounts to a little over 163 thousand dollars. She was receiving life saving treatment at the hospital for a very serious case of COVID.
So, is it appropriate for the Government to pay for the expenses of a private citizen? Here's how the Health Minister answered that one:
Reporter
"So, is the standard procedure for the government to assist family members of ministers in paying their hospital bills?"
Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness
"That is a decision that really comes from the ministry of finance. That is not a decision that comes from the ministry of health and wellness. At the ministry of health and wellness we have a small budget that we use to assist persons who are seeking medical attention, to those who can't afford it and we try to subsidized as best as we can, but in terms of larger sums of money, those really come from the ministry of finance."
