The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Insurance industry executives yesterday blasted the Government for “ploughing ahead” with a political agenda over National Health Insurance (NHI), and described the lack of consultation as a “stark contrast” to Value-Added Tax (VAT) implementation.

Tina Cambridge, regional director for Generali Worldwide, while speaking at a Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) press conference, said the concerns held by the Association and other stakeholders were being dismissed.

   “We are all saying that we are being dismissed. Our cries are not being heard, and it is as if the Government is ploughing along with a political agenda as opposed to us having a national platform for the delivery and building of a proper UHC (universal health coverage) platform for the Bahamas,” Ms Cambridge said.

“That’s most unfortunate because this is a national initiative. It is something that is going to touch the pockets of every one of us.”

  She added: “All stakeholders have come up and said we are for universal health care. We do not agree with the way it is being done, especially within the current economic framework in which the country finds itself. All stakeholders need to be engaged at the table with the Government because we all want what is best for our country.”

    The Consultant Physician Staff Association  (CPSA), the representative body for more than 100 senior doctors in the country’s public health system, recently said it will not support the Government’s proposed scheme.

Dr Locksley Munroe, a general surgeon for 34 years and president of the CPSA, told this newspaper that the doctors would not sign-up for or agree to go forward with any NHI registration unless the Government respects its input into the scheme’s design.

    Lyrone Burrows, the Family Guardian president and BIA deputy chairman, said the Government had not undertaken the same level of consultation as it did prior to the introduction of VAT last January.

“When you look at VAT implementation, it is a stark contrast to NHI,” said Mr Burrows.

   Ms Cambridge said the current NHI model is not right for the Bahamas. “The model that is being seemingly adopted by the Government is the wrong model for the Bahamas,” she said.

“We are a unique country. We have an archipelago and we are talking about universal health coverage, which means that what is acceptable to one set of persons in, say New Providence, should also be accessible to others in, say, Mayaguana.

“We know that there  are shortfalls within the public system at the moment, so if we don’t have the proper infrastructure upgrades initially, how is to that we will deliver to our people a higher level of services that we expect? The Government needs to immediately address that. We are not the only stakeholders saying the same thing.”