The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

MINSTER OF Health Dr Perry Gomez said the implementation of National Health Insurance remains a top priority for this government – especially now that the poor cannot afford basic health care services.

He made his remarks at the commissioning ceremony for a digital mammogram machine.

Dr Gomez said access to the correct and proper cancer treatment should not be determined by whether you are lower class, middle class or upper class.

“Look at it from the eye of the poor, not from middle class people who have insurance, because it is still very difficult for poor people to get all of the right care. We believe in equity and without equity in our country we will still have problems and so it is expensive to get breast cancer treatment if you don’t have insurance.

“A (scan) costs $500, I thought it was $100. How does the poor women with great cancer get it? What do the drugs cost? Something needs to be done, we need to sit and reconsider these things, I know a young lady who is on a drug that is over $4,000 a month,” he said.

“How can a poor woman afford that? It is serious and so you understand why we must have National Health Insurance in this country. It is only through universal health insurance that we will get equity in health care, where everybody can participate in the insurance depending on their means but nevertheless contributing and to be a part of what this is all about.

“This universal health care insurance is the most important common denominator for the progress of health care throughout the world, not just the Bahamas, and we can not afford to fail as it is just too important.

“We must treat all people the same with a smile, with interest, it goes a long way in helping them get through cancer.”

Last month, Dr Gomez said the final cost of NHI should be clarified this month.

Giving an update on the national health insurance scheme prior to a Cabinet meeting, Dr Gomez said: “The National Health Insurance development is coming along. We appointed a committee, it is chaired by the deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr (Delon) Brennen. They have been meeting regularly now for two and a half months, making plans.

“We look forward to getting technical people more involved beginning next month so that we get not to the nuts and bolts of National Health Insurance.”

Dr Gomez said “a lot of the work” has already been done by the first commission and this commission, headed by Dr Brennen, has been reviewing documents and “learning what NHI is all about”.

“People are very committed so I am optimistic as to what’s going on,” Dr Gomez said.

And as for a price tag on the implementation of a national health plan, he said: “We haven’t done the costing yet. That will come in October or so. We hope to get the help of the World Health Organisation involved in that as well because as you may know, universal health coverage is a top priority item for the World Health Organisation.”

Although a National Health Insurance Act was passed by the government in 2006, it has only been carried out partially through the Prescription Drug Plan, which officially started in 2010.