The Tribune

MINISTRY of Health officials are in the final stages of completing a proposed ten-year National Health Services Strategic Plan that will seek to establish a framework for strengthening the country's healthcare system and services.

The NHSS is expected to lead to the establishment of a National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP).

Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez said the National Health Services Strategic Plan 2010-2020 will be presented to Cabinet, after which consultations will begin "with all of our stakeholders".

The NHSS, Dr Gomez said, will contain a "new vision" for health and health care in the Bahamas.

"Specific attention will be given to changing performance management systems; attending to health manpower planning needs and improving financial management systems within the Ministry and the Public Hospitals Authority," Dr Gomez said.

"Adoption of these and other facets of this plan is a prerequisite to the implementation of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP)," he added.

Dr Gomez said the government's proposed National Health Insurance Plan will reap major benefits for citizens of the Bahamas, including providing access to medical insurance for those who cannot afford it.

He said the plan will also help to fund the further development of the country's medical infrastructure, particularly hospitals and clinics, and facilitate the "hiring and compensation" of health professionals including doctors, nurses and allied health staff, and also assist the country in meeting the World Health Organisation's vision of universal healthcare for all world citizens.

Dr Gomez said a timetable for the implementation of the NHIP will be set out "as the national economic condition evolves" but that it was his "personal commitment" to ensure that the plan is implemented "during this term in office".

The National Health Insurance Plan will be integrated into the National Health Services Strategic Plan. Ministry officials, he said, will focus on the financing module for the NHIP during the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

"The National Health Insurance Plan (which) was passed into law in December, 2006, with the full support of both sides in Parliament (and) following wide public consultation, should be implemented as soon as possible to provide medical insurance to all eligible persons in our country," Dr Gomez said.

"This is particularly important for our people as many do not have health insurance; some are under-insured for many reasons; others have been denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and many cannot afford the insurance premiums.

"We are a nation that cares for our brothers and sisters and this means that we must all contribute; we must all care about our fellow man, rich or poor," Dr Gomez said.

He said the Bahamas will join many First World countries in offering a universal healthcare plan to its citizenry.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) encourages developing countries to implement some form of healthcare coverage for their citizens," Dr Gomez said.

"This government's commitment towards the establishment of a National Health Insurance Plan remains undiminished."

Dr Gomez said Ministry of Health officials will work with diverse sectors of government and the private sector, national and international civic organisations, businesses and academic institutions to establish formal and informal partnerships in order to "effectively carry out" its mandate.

"The Ministry of Health, like all ministries, requires certain critical things, (such as) staff expertise and infrastructure, to perform its core policy and technical functions.

"The ministry must be able to effectively work across sectors of government and to advocate for health funding and promote health in all corners.

"It must also be able to work in various government arrangements, with national and international civil society organisations, businesses, academic institutions through formal and informal partnerships and contracts and other means of effective communication and collaboration.

"These relationships are necessary to support and supplement the resources of the ministry in its core functions," Dr Gomez said.