The opposition is raising concerns that working Antiguans and Barbudans are being denied adequate access to healthcare, accusing the government of using patient uptake data to obstruct the expansion of after-hours clinic services. According to Antigua Observer, United Progressive Party Senator Jonathan Wehner is leading the charge against what he describes as a policy that unfairly places the burden of proof on the public.
Senator Wehner argues that residents who work during standard operating hours are disproportionately affected by the current limitations on after-hours clinic availability. He contends that the government's reliance on patient uptake figures as a justification for not expanding the service fails to account for the very conditions that prevent working citizens from accessing healthcare in the first place.
The UPP senator's concerns highlight a broader debate over healthcare accessibility and government policy, with the opposition maintaining that the existing framework disadvantages a significant portion of the population. Wehner has called on the government to reconsider its approach and prioritise equitable access to medical services for all residents, regardless of their working hours.
