The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A well-known surgeon yesterday blasted the Christie administration for its “mismanagement” of its proposed National Health Insurance scheme, saying had the government been more co-operative with stakeholders the process would be “further along” by now.

Dr Duane Sands, the former Free National Movement senator, said the government waited until “the last minute” to adequately engage stakeholders on the intimate details of the proposed scheme.

He said it is “unreasonable” for the government to now expect stakeholders to co-sign with its position on how NHI should be administered, “particularly when the only reason why that mandate is so rigid is because of the political imperative to get this done”.

“How do you plan for something when you are told there are going to be changes to your industry and its coming in two weeks, and you don’t have anything concrete on which to base major financial decisions?” Dr Sands said. “Doesn’t that create panic?”

Dr Sands said come January 1, there will be “nothing different that Bahamians can touch or feel” in terms of universal health coverage, save for people being able to “go to a particular place and fill out a particular form.”

With roughly two weeks to go before the proposed implementation date, the government and insurance stakeholders are still at odds over the administration of universal health coverage in the country.

The insurance industry is hoping that the government will abandon its plans to establish a public insurer and instead work towards offering affordable premiums to citizens along with its proposed vital benefits plan.

Some Progressive Liberal Party members have likened the insurance industry to a “cartel,” that only cares about its bottom line.

When questioned yesterday however, Dr Sands said the dispute isn’t due to a lack of willingness from the stakeholders, but because the healthcare industry has not been adequately engaged.

“So while the government of the Bahamas may figure that they can do something willy-nilly and do it with a two week timeline, that’s not responsible governance,” he said. “And so it is unreasonable to ask other people to do it, particularly when the only reason why that mandate is so rigid is because of the political imperative to get this done.

“…The government has not engaged the stakeholders who played a vital role in the development of a vital plan for healthcare adequately. As a matter of fact they have been on occasion overtly hostile to the insurance industry, and there have been a number of government spokespersons who have used less than conciliatory or civil language.

“So while the government should be commended for pushing further forward with this initiative, even they will admit that they have mismanaged this process. Now, the question is how do we move forward?”

He added: “Whether they are able to get something slapped together in order to allow one or two or three or four patients to get to see a doctor and have a system work remains to be seen. But again like I said, there’s a political imperative to get this done. It is unfortunate that what is driving this primarily is the politics. But you can rest assured that the political survival of the Progressive Liberal Party is hanging in the balance in the basis of NHI. And they believe that they will either win or lose an election depending on the response of the Bahamian public to this programme.”

NHI will be phased in over a five-year period, officials have said.

That first phase involves registration and improvement in public health infrastructure. The primarily healthcare package will be rolled out in April, according to officials.