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  • 7 months ago
The new UNC Administration will be making amendments to the laws governing the Children's Life Fund.


According to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar it is one of the first priorities and will be treated with at the first Parliamentary sitting.


Alicia Boucher has the details.
Transcript
00:00Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa says a review of the Children's Life Fund was undertaken
00:05and there showed up areas which need to be improved.
00:09While the fund initially focused on children suffering with life-threatening illnesses,
00:14she states that as her cabinet met for the first time on May 8th,
00:17a decision was taken to address this issue by expanding the scope of the fund through legislative amendments.
00:23We have now approved an amendment for a bill to be laid in the Parliament at its first sitting
00:30to include children suffering from life-threatening illnesses
00:38and for children suffering from life-limited medical illnesses.
00:44So this allows some...
00:45Bater-thalicy.
00:48Bater-thalicy.
00:48Yes, Dr. What do you say?
00:50Bater-thalicy.
00:51Yes, this is a big word.
00:52These children will be suffering limiting their lifestyles and their quality of life
00:57and they were not covered by the law as we had originally drafted it.
01:03According to the Prime Minister, it will apply in cases where treatment is not available locally.
01:08There will also be the addition of a review mechanism by the Health Minister
01:12concerning decisions made by the board overseeing the fund.
01:17Passat-Bissessa says while the board had the final say in the past,
01:20she believes it didn't always serve in the best interest of children whose lives are hanging in the balance.
01:26She adds that, at least in one case, it has led to tragedy.
01:30So after the board rejects an applicant, the Minister of Health, together of course with his staffing there,
01:38would review that decision to determine whether this applicant should be granted the fund.
01:48So that's the second part of it.
01:49And there is yet another amendment.
01:51That gives discretion to the Minister of Health
01:56to deal with matters on an urgent basis.
02:01So basically we are looking at three changes in order to reach more of our children
02:06who will be in need of medical assistance that is not available in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:12Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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