The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday affirmed that there is no significant introduction of taxes directly related to National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation “at the outset”, citing the single governance model as fundamental to the health care industry’s reformation and a smooth NHI implementation.

Addressing Parliament yesterday while introducing a Bill for an Act to repeal the National Health Insurance Act 2007 to pave the way for the the implementation of NHI, a national health insurance authority and fund, Dr Gomez said: “The aim is not to increase the approximately $400 million being expended annually on all aspects of healthcare in the country by the government. As a result there is no significant introduction of taxes directly related to the implementation of NHI at the outset. In order to achieve this the four pillars of universal health coverage - single governance, the social determinants of health, health system straightening and health care financing - are all addressed simultaneously.”

He added: “The concept of single governance is fundamental to the reformation of the health care industry or the smooth implementation of universal health coverage under the umbrella of National Health Insurance.”

Dr Gomez noted that legislation being crafted that would allow for the proper execution of single governance across the health care industry. “In the public sector this will be achieved with the creation of a public health authority which will untie the clinical functions of the department of health and the Public Hospitals Authority particularly to create a seamless system of clinical services. This will allow the public health functions of prevention, promotion and protection to be separated in the ambit of the Ministry of Health headquarters for national oversight and monitoring,” said Dr Gomez.