By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday suggested that the achievement of the proposed implementation of National Health Insurance could lead to the reduction of the country’s “unacceptable” infant mortality rate by enabling prospective mothers to receive adequate antenatal care.
Dr Gomez said that universal health coverage would help many of the nation’s poorest residents to obtain health coverage without the fear of “the embarrassment of being asked to pay and not having the money.”
Based on a 2014 report prepared by international accounting firm Sanigest Internacional, death rates of people aged 18 to 64 admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital’s public wards stood at 2.7 per cent compared to a death rate of 0.5 per cent for those of the same age range in the private wards.
Those younger than 18, excluding newborns, had a death rate of 0.7 per cent in public wards while there were no deaths for this age group in PMH’s private wards.
Dr Gomez confirmed in an interview with The Tribune that the nation’s infant mortality rate stood at a rate of 22 per 1,000 adding that the rate was of “great concern to the government.”
He claimed that as a country, the Bahamas should be ashamed.
“We are 22, it is disgraceful. With or without National Health Insurance we have to remove that.
“Most countries are single digits. Barbados is 10, Cuba is the best at 0.3 per 1,000. As rich as a country we are, we have an infant mortality rate that is unacceptable,” said Dr Gomez.
“You would be surprised to know why so many persons are crowded in our hospitals already too sick, beyond a disease process that has gone to far. They can’t afford to go to a clinic or a doctor of their choice,” he added.
He said that the central feature of universal health coverage proposed by the Progressive Liberal Party remains the removal of money from the point of service.
“The removal of money at the point of care will cause people to go to our clinics for routine checks at a much more frequent rate – that is one of the things that keeps people away from routine check ups or going in when they have symptom, the inability to pay for service,” he said.
The government intends to roll out the first phase of NHI in January 2016.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
Yes it is indeed disgraceful that so many of our politicians have gone from flat broke to millionaire status in 5 years while all those babies in poor families were dying.
Economist 8 years, 10 months ago
He does not say how it will reduce this. He could tell us that it will cue all cancer. I don't believe a word he says.
What I do believe is that it will take The Bahamas deeper into debt and its people into the poor house.
How about improving the economy so that we c have full employment, better pay, so we can all afford better food and have private health insurance?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
I agree.it is scary. The government is throwing out random carrots to its base without any kind of analysis on the impact of these policies on each other or the overall economy. It is scary.
B_I_D___ 8 years, 10 months ago
Just what this country needs...more illegitimate children with no fathers to guide them!!
justthefactsplease 8 years, 10 months ago
Can he say what prevents these mothers from accessing prenatal care NOW...last I checked, the clinics are still free.
asiseeit 8 years, 10 months ago
We are just going to be throwing good money at a broken system. Fix the system first stupid! Also those Bahamian mothers are still going to have to toe the line behind a bunch of illegals, so who wins? We gonna get swamped. It's not like the defense force actually stops most of those rickity sailboats from the south.
duppyVAT 8 years, 10 months ago
What is the main reason for infants to die before their first birthday in The Bahamas?????? Is it parental neglect or related birth defects??????????
Alltoomuch 8 years, 10 months ago
It does seem to me that sometimes politicians (even doctor politicians) focus on the wrong issues!
Alltoomuch 8 years, 10 months ago
Wonder how the actual birth rates in the other countries quoted compare with the Bahamas?
ohdrap4 8 years, 10 months ago
This statement really reveals that the purpose of health insuirance is to make the citizens pay for their health care to alleviate the govt expenses, and make more money availabel to care for illegal immigrants.
baclarke 8 years, 10 months ago
The PLP talks trash. If they really cared about making health care more affordable, why did they put VAT on it? Just like they put VAT on other essentials such as food items and Electricity. They are full of hot air and I am sick of them. Shame on Bahamians for putting these bastards in power.
Alltoomuch 8 years, 10 months ago
what really gets me is having to pay VAT on top of the surcharge - that surely has to be SO wrong!!
baclarke 8 years, 10 months ago
agreed @Alltoomuch
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