myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

This might sound like a dumb question but is there such a thing in Trinidad as a hospital registration fee that women who are giving birth have to pay up front?

Hi

Sort of - let me explain. The state health care system in T&T is "free", or paid for from national insurance and health surcharge taxes from earnings, just as in the UK. Birth at a public hospital would not require payment of any such sum, which would actually preclude most ordinary citizens from giving birth in hospital since such a sum is about 2-4 weeks average wages.

However, just as in any country in the world where you are not covered by a health insurance policy (which also includes maternity cover), admission to a private hospital will require an advance payment of a deposit against costs. For a predicted "normal" birth this deposit will be around 2000+ tt dollars, depending on the hospital or nursing home charges (eg Stanleys is cheaper than St Clair, in POS).

Those wishing to give birth privately in Tobago itself (on a package trip between beach visits?) are restricted to the only private clinic at the Triangle buildings in Scarborough - and even that is closed at present for a refurbishment that is way, way overdue...

Hope this helps - lodging a credit card is easiest