The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 200 people enrolled in National Health Insurance on Grand Bahama over the weekend at pop-up locations in Freeport and in Lucaya.

Since the launch of the enrolment phase on April 24, some 2,860 Grand Bahamians have enrolled to date.

Charles Hamilton, communications consultant with NHI Bahamas, reported that 60 persons enrolled on Friday at the location in Port Lucaya Marketplace between 10am and 2pm, and 200 at the Circle Mall location in Freeport between 9am-5pm on Saturday.

“It was a pretty successful event on Saturday and persons of all ages turned out to enrol,” he told The Tribune, adding that the process was simple and quick.

In a press statement issued on Friday, officials said the third phase of NHI is underway with those enrolled able to receive primary care service at no cost, and their selected preferred doctors and physicians registered to provide primary care service under NHI have received payment.

Mr Hamilton reported that more than two dozen doctors from the public and private sectors have registered under NHI on Grand Bahama.

“There is definitely a healthy appetite among the public to enrol in NHI,” he said. “We continue to have persons going to the NIB offices on the island to enrol and also through the website.”

When asked for the figures, Mr Hamilton was unable to provide the numbers of those who had registered online or through NIB offices on Grand Bahama, but said the numbers would be available at the end of the day.

He indicated that they intend to hold more pop-up events on Grand Bahama and are encouraging Bahamians to enrol.

“We want…to be able to reach persons and eliminate any barriers they might have to be able to enrol. We know that not everyone may be tech savvy or can go to the NIB locations, and we want to go in to communities like West End and other parts of the island so that everyone can have an opportunity to enrol at the pop-up locations,” he said.

According to Mr Hamilton, the process takes about 15 minutes and persons pick their primary care doctors the same time they enrol.

Phase three of NHI - primary healthcare coverage - has started in Grand Bahama. The NHI consultant reported that as of Friday patients in Grand Bahama started visiting their selected doctors and receiving care at no cost at point of service.

“We are seeing great support from Grand Bahamians who are excited that the day has come where they can start receiving care under NHI Bahamas. There have been doctors from across the island who will serve communities, including Freeport, Eight Mile Rock, Hawksbill Creek, High Rock and the West End, to ensure local residents have access to quality, affordable care,” Peter Deveaux-Isaacs, permanent secretary for National Health Insurance, said in an official statement released last Friday.

Dr Renee Lockhart, of Seahorse Family Health Centre in Freeport, is one of the primary care providers in Grand Bahama.

“As a primary care provider, I feel privileged to treat some of the first patients in Grand Bahama who can now access care under NHI Bahamas. This is an important programme that will help relieve the burden of medical expenses associated with primary care for Bahamians,” she said.

Andrea James was among the first patients to receive care in Grand Bahama under NHI.

“It feels great to have access to NHI Bahamas. I had insurance for many years and each year it progressively increased to a point where I had to let it go. NHI Bahamas adds a level of individuality and you have a primary care doctor whom you can identify and build a relationship with. I am excited about this because it is a very encouraging first step,” she said.

The primary care phase of coverage will cover many services, including doctor visits, screening for various medical conditions, lab tests, diagnostic imaging, ultra sounds and x-rays, vaccinations, various medications, and much more. The full primary care benefits package can be found online at http://www.nhibahamas.gov.bs/whats-covered/. The NHI Secretariat said that enrolment for NHI Bahamas is continuing.

In order to enrol, persons will need the following: NIB Smart Card; be a Bahamian citizen or legal resident and proof of residency in The Bahamas for the last six months.

Persons in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands can also enrol online or in-person at their local NIB office.