The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government has received backing for its National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme and proposed implementation timetable from one of its rivals, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) arguing that its “time has come”.

Chris Mortimer, the DNA’s deputy leader, said that NHI implementation would not be as difficult as some suggest, noting that the Turks and Caicos - which has a smaller population than the Bahamas - had successfully implemented the scheme.

“Quality health care is a fundamental right of every single Bahamian,” Mr Mortimer said. “It is our view that stakeholders such as the Government, the insurance industry, healthcare professionals must work together to ensure a functioning universal health care system.”

Mr Mortimer acknowledged that there was a serious need to address wastage in the public healthcare system. “We still have to move forward,” he added.

Dr Glen Beneby, the Government’s chief medical officer, recently admitted that around $100 million, or 25-30 per cent of its annual healthcare spending, is wasted. He noted that the Government was spending $400 million annually in the public health care sector.

Sanigest, the Government’s NHI consultant, has placed a $400 million price tag on the Vital Benefits Package - the basic level of health insurance to be offered under NHI. It also placed a $633 million cost on NHI’s expanded benefits package - a figure well below the Bahamas Insurance Association’s (BIA) estimates.

“Whatever the figures are, if we delay the cost is only going to go up even more,” said Mr Mortimer. “We have a long way to go when it comes to the resources required to have a 21st century healthcare system.”

The DNA is calling for a defined benefits package where all of the essential medical services are included. “We want to see a benefits structure on the social principles of equal access, meaning no exclusions, no waiting period, no denial for pre-existing conditions, no deductibles and choice of physicians,” said Mr Mortimer.

“We want those comprehensive benefits to be available not only domestically but internationally as well.”