The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Insurance Association yesterday criticised the government for having “long lulls” between meetings with the group over the administration of National Health Insurance.

The association, in a statement, said that notwithstanding its “misgivings” about NHI’s current design and its disagreements with the government over that design, the NHI Secretariat “ought not to have long lulls between meetings and exchanges of information with the BIA.”

The BIA also called for an “opportunity” to demonstrate an alternative to the government’s NHI scheme, charging that the plan in its current state will amount to yet “another state owned corporation which will inevitably provide poor service at great expense to taxpayers.”

The BIA’s statement comes after members of the group’s NHI committee finally met with the NHI Secretariat on Thursday, the first meeting it has had with the group since a meeting between the two parties in December, which was facilitated by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC).

“We believe that the skills and capabilities of private health insurers must be leveraged in order for NHI to be a success and we would expect that despite disagreements, the NHI Secretariat ought not to have long lulls between meetings and exchanges with the BIA,” the association said.

The BIA’s statement serves as the latest in a saga of strained relations between the government and insurance stakeholders over the administration of NHI.

The BIA, comprised of 31 insurance companies, brokerages and agencies, 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.

To accomplish this, the BIA has proposed the removal of VAT from all medical services and medical insurance, and the reduction of premium taxes in order to make health care more affordable. The BIA also called for the establishment of a legislated body made up of the industry, the government and civil society to set rates for the plan.

The BIA has since complained of having limited involvement in NHI discussions, claiming that the reason it has been ignored is due to a “political” agenda on the government’s part to implement the controversial plan.

“As we learned the reasons that led to the government believing that there is merit in creating a public insurer in December, the BIA wishes to be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate how the government’s concerns can be met through alternative approaches, sparing the country the waste of creating another state owned corporation which will inevitably provide poor service at great expense to taxpayers,” the BIA’s statement said.

The BIA added: “While the matters of concern to the BIA remain unresolved, the BIA is hopeful that tangible progress will ultimately come out of the resumed engagement.”

Nearly two weeks ago, BIA Chairman Emmanuel Komolafe suggested that the group is willing to “compromise” on its stance regarding the administration of NHI, adding that the insurers are not an “enemy” of government’s proposed scheme.

Mr Komolafe said while the BIA’s stance on NHI’s administration has been made “quite clear” to the NHI Secretariat, the association is willing to “see what it is that we can do” with regards to softening its stance and resuming discussions with officials.

However, he noted at the time that there has been “minimal movement” in terms of the government’s discussions with the BIA over NHI’s administration.

NHI’s primary care phase is expected to start in April. However, government officials have suggested that a delay in the implementation date for this phase is possible.