The financial and human cost of gun violence in Barbados extends far beyond the rising death toll and is placing an unsustainable burden on the already stretched public health system, says former minister of health Donville Inniss.
Inniss, the health minister from 2008 to 2013, is now urging authorities to treat gun violence as a major public health crisis, suggesting it had far-reaching implications for national development.
Alarming
Inniss, reaching out to the MIDWEEK NATION, said Barbadians were right to be alarmed at the rising number of firearm-related murders but cautioned that focusing solely on fatality statistics overlooked the deeper, more pervasive toll of gun crime on society.
“Barbadians are rightfully concerned over the number of gun-related violence that has permeated our society,” he said.
“Naturally, we focus on the number of deaths directly attributed to such violence. That statistic is easily used by most persons to drive fear into hearts, score political points, or plan responses. However, there is perhaps a more compelling statistic that we should all be equally concerned about – the consequences of such violence to our public health care system,” he said.
The former Member of Parliament for St James South under a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration, highlighted that for every person shot and killed, there could be five others who survive their injuries with significant implications for the health care sector and society at large.
“The reality is that there are costs related to the emergency personnel who are called to save a life at the scene and to transport the person to the Accident & Emergency Department, the care provided at the QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) by nurses, doctors and other members of the emergency room team and diagnostic equipment used.”
Inniss noted that such victims might need emergency or urgent surgeries, hence necessitating the use of operating theatres and personnel that may have otherwise been scheduled for other patients.
“Herein lies a very human and financial cost to our society,” he noted.
He warned that delayed treatment for other critical patients, such as cancer sufferers or cardiac emergencies, could lead to worsened outcomes or even death, all because of resources being diverted to treat gunshot victims.
“Some people die as a result of such delays or can find that their quality of life is further diminished,” he said.
Heavy price
The former minister said 13 years ago, preliminary figures estimated that the cost of treating a single gunshot victim who survived was around $75 000. Today, Inniss believes that number has nearly tripled.
“I would estimate that each gunshot victim is placing approximately $200 000 in costs to the State,” he said.
“Whatever the actual numbers are, these are taxpayers’ dollars that we cannot sustain. It simply means that other persons are being denied health care interventions that are needed.”
Inniss also pointed to broader societal costs: longterm rehabilitation, disability benefits, psychological trauma, family disruptions, lost productivity, the risk of retaliatory violence, and the need to retrofit homes to accommodate victims.
“Perhaps, the next time some fool decides to arm themselves with a firearm and shoots another person, reflect first on the fact that your grandmother who raised and cared for you may die because your victim stopped her from getting the care she needs for cervical cancer,” he added.
Publish cost
Calling for urgent Government action, he urged the Ministry of Health to calculate and publish the full public cost of gun violence and use that data to develop informed, effective public health policies.
“Good public health policy mandates that we first accept that gun violence is now a major public health issue and that effective interventions are based on sound analysis of the issue,” he said.
“Such data should inform changes in both the public health system and in the wider society’s attitudes and conduct.”
He suggested that Barbados could not continue to celebrate modest economic growth while ignoring the social damage inflicted by a surge in violent crime.
“We cannot celebrate 2.5 per cent growth in the economy as we experience a 25 per cent increase in gun violence. Barbados is not just an economy. It is also a society,” he said.
Inniss likened the situation to the early days of motor vehicle accidents, which eventually led to seatbelt laws due to their cost in human lives and public resources.
“The time has come for an equally bold and informed approach to address the real costs of gun violence in our society,” he added. (BA)
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