The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), has launched a major preventative healthcare initiative aimed at reversing high rates of chronic disease, with free annual medical assessments now being offered to members covered by health insurance.

The programme, introduced through the association’s partnership with private clinic Urgent Care Barbados, and Beacon Insurance Company Limited, provides fully funded yearly wellness consultations for BARP’s insured members, signalling a shift away from reactive treatment towards early detection and prevention.

Under the agreement, enrolled members will receive a physician-led annual consultation at no cost. Doctors will then order targeted screenings, including tests for blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function and cancers, based on each patient’s age and risk profile. The arrangement also gives members access to Urgent Care facilities, including its newly opened multidisciplinary hospital, at specially negotiated rates.