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Patients are warned: Brace for VAT ‘shock’

Bahamian patients were yesterday warned to brace for “a shock even at the smallest levels” as the change in VAT’s treatment of medical insurance claims payouts will further fuel already-soaring medical costs.

Child tourist has suspect measles

PUBLIC health officials are investigating a suspected case of measles in a four-year-old tourist.The Ministry of Health was reportedly notified on Monday that a child had gone to a private health care facility in New Providence with the symptoms of the disease.

NHI in ‘severe’ solvency threat to local insurers

Private health insurers yesterday warned that National Health Insurance’s (NHI) current structure threatens to “severely” undermine their solvency, with the mid-July 2020 launch date likely “unachievable”.

Health scheme’s costs now $130m

PROPOSED policy changes to universal healthcare have come at an increased cost with Graham Whitmarsh, managing director of the National Health Insurance Authority, revealing yesterday implementation next year will cost $130 million.

Junior doctors: PHA holiday pay offer was below minimum wage

DAYS after Bahamas Doctors Union agreed to call off strike action to negotiate over outstanding holiday pay, junior doctors said Public Hospitals Authority’s offer of $1.80 per hour was not generous but below minimum wage.

‘Carry on, doctors’ - but end in sight

DOCTORS had a productive meeting with finance officials yesterday, pulling them closer to full service after more than a week of industrial action.

‘Scale down’ NHI by 50%, govt told

The Government has been urged to “scale down” National Health Insurance’s (NHI) basic benefits by up to 50 percent amid fears businesses will become a “financial lifeguard” for the scheme.

Ministry 'actively' monitoring swine flu reports

IN the wake of recent swine flu cases in the country, Ministry of Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu on Friday told reporters that the ministry is “actively” monitoring such reports, as it does whenever there is an outbreak.

Doctors in ultimatum to health authority

SENIOR doctors in the public healthcare system are planning to obtain a strike certificate after failing to finalise an industrial agreement with the Public Hospitals Authority despite more than two years of negotiations.

The Bahamas wasted three years of my life, says doctor

THE concern some junior doctors feel about an impending programme they fear will push them out of the public healthcare system is fuelled by experiences with the University of the West Indies’ post-grad programmes where matriculation rates are low.Dr

Doctors at ‘breaking point’, union chief warns

AFTER years of enduring substandard working conditions and inadequate terms of service, doctors in the public sector have reached a breaking point, Dr Mucomba Miller, Acting President of the Bahamas Doctors Union, has warned.

Insurers claim NHI’s Secretariat is likely acting 'illegally'

THE Bahamas Insurance Association yesterday said it supports measures by the Minnis administration to stop, review and get right all aspects of National Health Insurance, adding that it is likely NHI’s Secretariat is “illegally” acting as an insurance company.

Enrolment for NHI to begin on April 24

ENROLMENT for National Health Insurance will begin on April 24, the NHI Secretariat announced yesterday, at which time Bahamians will be able to choose their primary care physician.

Concerns over Trinidad firm’s involvement in NHI

THE selection of Trinidadian firm Teleios Systems to be the IT system provider for the National Health Insurance scheme has ignited security concerns over the disclosure of personal data.

Warning of ‘immense’ problems for NHI

AS the Christie administration faces a time crunch to implement the primary care phase of National Health Insurance before Bahamians head to the polls this year, the government is challenged by “immense” logistical problems because public facilities are not structurally sound, a high level NHI insider has told The Tribune.

FNM commits to NHI plan

THE Free National Movement said it would, if elected to office this year, implement a functional National Health Insurance plan with a robust catastrophic healthcare component.

NHI registration of physicians begins

GOVERNMENT officials yesterday announced the launch of National Health Insurance’s primary care physician registration, which NHI senior officials said is a “critical milestone” that signals the “initiation” of the second phase of the government proposed scheme.

NHI secretariat criticised for ‘spinning’ support for scheme

DR SY Pierre, president of the Bahamas Medical Association, yesterday criticised the National Health Insurance Secretariat as a public relations campaign dedicated to spinning a narrative of support for the scheme despite glaring industry concerns.

Success of NHI ‘depends on support of doctors’

THE launch of the second phase of National Health Insurance, public enrolment, hinges on the “success” of physician registration in January, according to NHI Secretariat Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs.

Endorsement for the Independent Provider Association slammed as 'deceptive'

MEDICAL Association of the Bahamas President Dr Sy Coolidge Pierre has denied that the Trade Union Congress and the Bahamas Independent Provider Association has entered into a partnership to advance National Health Insurance discussions, calling the purported agreement “distasteful and deceptive.”

Medics were ‘blindsided’ by NHI tabling

QUESTIONING the “government’s commitment to consultation and transparency,” United Healthcare Reform Alliance, a coalition of medical and insurance stakeholder groups, claimed yesterday that it was “blindsided” by the government’s tabling of its landmark National Health Insurance Bill in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Advisory council is formed to guide NHI

THE National Health Insurance Secretariat announced yesterday that it has invited numerous stakeholder groups to be a part of an advisory council that will oversee the implementation of the health plan.

Govt determined to make progress over National Health

THE Christie administration is now seeking to engage “every single” National Health Insurance stakeholder in attempts to further expedite the implementation of the proposed scheme, Chief Medical Officer Dr Glen Beneby said yesterday.

Rejection of NHI model ‘curious’ says secretariat

THE recent rejection of the proposed National Health Insurance model by industry stakeholders is “curious” considering the government had consultations and “fruitful discussions” with them about the scheme, NHI Secretariat Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs said yesterday.

Primary care under NHI not likely for months

IT IS likely to be months before primary healthcare services are offered to Bahamians through National Health Insurance (NHI), government consultants from KPMG suggested yesterday, confirming expectations that this phase of the Christie administration’s scheme will not come on stream next month as planned.

DOCTORS WANT DELAY FOR NHI INTRODUCTION

THE head of the Consultant Physician Staff Association praised the government yesterday for engaging doctors on National Health Insurance in recent weeks, but still said the scheme likely will not come on stream in April as the government plans.

NHI legislation released - but no word on funding

THE draft legislation for the government’s proposed National Health Insurance scheme has been released, but officials yesterday were still uncertain on how the scheme would be funded once implemented.

Govt to revise NHI scheme after doctor alarm

THE government is set to make numerous revisions to its National Health Insurance scheme after doctors expressed concerns about it last month, The Tribune understands.

Govt to reconsider one aspect of NHI scheme

THE Christie administration has agreed to reconsider its position on patient-centred medical homes, a leading physician said yesterday, noting that the matter has been a significant point of contention for doctors negotiating with the government on its proposed National Health Insurance scheme.

No final decision yet on penalty for not signing up to NHI

CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Glen Beneby yesterday said no “final” decision has been made on whether the government will penalise those who do not to enrol for National Health Insurance, but stressed that officials are discussing ways by which to “encourage persons to comply” instead of creating a penalty.

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