The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian insurers have added their voice to demands that the Government “immediately terminate” Sanigest Internacional as its key National Health Insurance (NHI) adviser, arguing the company “no longer commands the respect or confidence” of the healthcare industry.

The Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA), in its first official comment on the situation, described a key Sanigest consultant’s derogatory comments towards the sector as “extremely inappropriate”.

Tribune Business revealed last week how Etoile Pinder, who is also the wife of Sanigest president James Cercone, described opponents of the current NHI model as “morons” and “money-grubbing asses” on her Facebook page.

She posted: “I give up. My country prefers morons and money-grubbing asses to intelligent, evidence-based decision-making. Peace out. I’m off to help countries that actually value my contributions. Good luck ya’ll.”

The comments provoked outrage and consternation among healthcare industry professionals, and the BIA yesterday suggested Ms Pinder’s comments had undermined Prime Minister Perry Christie’s previous pledges of inclusiveness and consultation on NHI and wider health reform.

“On her Facebook page, Mrs Pinder described private sector stakeholders in the health industry as ‘morons and money-grubbing asses’, because they held differing views on how universal health coverage could be achieved in the Bahamas,” the BIA said.

“In doing so, she has completely undermined the Prime Minister, who said in his Budget address that ‘the challenge of providing universal healthcare will require us to come together and work collaboratively in a way we have never had to before’.”

The BIA then expressed unhappiness that no one from either the Government or Sanigest had attempted to withdraw, or apologise for, Mrs Pinder’s “unhelpful and totally uncalled for remarks”.

“We are deeply concerned by the lack of response or action to date, and hereby call on the Government to state its position on these reckless comments by a consultant engaged and paid for by Bahamian taxpayers,” the BIA added.

“Does the Government endorse the comments of Mrs Pinder? We note that the Government had also failed to comment or respond to previous irresponsible comments by James Cercone, president of Sanigest.

“Does the Government view its citizens and partners in the implementation of universal health coverage in the same light as its consultants? The BIA has waited patiently for an official statement, but it appears that the Government is either unwilling to address the matter or it approves of this inappropriate behaviour.”

The insurance industry expressed concern that the Government’s silence suggested it was not interested in “meaningful consultation” over NHI.

“It made no sense for a senior government consultant like Etoile Pinder-Cercone to insult stakeholders in the industry she is seeking to transform,” the BIA added.

“We are constrained to demand the immediate termination of the contract of Sanigest, as it is apparent that the company no longer commands the respect or confidence of key universal healthcare stakeholders. Additionally, we ask that the Government issue a statement to the Bahamian people to clarify whether it shares Sanigest’s disdain for these stakeholders.”

The BIA’s official position will likely intensify the pressure on the Christie administration to at least ‘sideline’ Sanigest and ensure it plays no role in NHI consultations/interaction with the healthcare industry.

The Prime Minister will be especially loathe to dismiss the ‘architects’ of his proposed NHI model, not least because the proposed January 1, 2016, implementation date is so near. He will likely seek a compromise arrangement to ‘mollify’ private sector concerns.

Yet the BIA is likely to be further incensed by the latest comments from PLP chairman, Bradley Roberts, who accused its members of being motivated by self-interest in their opposition to NHI.

He told a recent PLP meeting that Bahamian health insurers wanted to prevent NHI’s introduction so that it could form a “monopolistic cartel”, and raise premium prices at will to boost profits.

Similar comments were made by Mr Cercone during his interview with Tribune Business in August 2015, which draw a sharp response from the BIA and its members back then.

The Association yesterday reiterated that NHI’s implementation was “a major step for a small country with a weak economy and high unemployment”, yet stakeholders such as itself and the Medical Association of the Bahamas (MAB) have been afforded little to no opportunity to provide feedback on its design.

The BIA said Mrs Pinder had been involved with the NHI effort since the 2002-2007 Christie administration, and its Blue Ribbon Commission. She is the constant presence that has provided the link to Sanigest and her husband.

“Few details have been made public, and there is grave concern about what the programme will cost and how it will be funded, among other issues,” the BIA said of NHI.

And it added that Sanigest’s NHI model had been challenged by both healthcare industry players and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which has warned that its implementation could “seriously destabilise” both the public and private healthcare sectors.

The BIA is far from the only health industry player to be upset with Sanigest. Dr Duane Sands told Tribune Business last week that the Government needed to fire the consultant firm due to the “contempt” Mrs Pinder had shown for the healthcare industry.

Dr Sands, a well-known physician and FNM Senator, told Tribune Business that “that type of language is unacceptable in any debate”.

He expressed concern that Ms Pinder’s comments, to which Tribune Business was alerted by industry stakeholders, threatened to “inflame” the NHI issue and, in so doing, undermine efforts to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable healthcare reform model acceptable to all sides.

“I am deeply troubled by the language and the tone,” he told Tribune Business of Ms Pinder’s Facebook posting.

“It is so steeped in contempt for any opposing views. I hope she is not authorised or speaking for [Sanigest] or speaking out for the Government.

“Either the Government of the Bahamas will disassociate themselves from these repugnant comments, demand a public apology or seek to have Mr and Mrs Cercone terminated.”