PM takes more advice on NHI plan

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Tuesday, March 10, 2015

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said the government is taking advice from English and Canadian consultants on the best way to implement its proposed National Health Insurance plan.

Amid calls from some critics to abandon plans to roll out NHI in January 2016, with fears from some critics that funding the scheme will over-tax the poor and middle-class, Mr Christie said his administration “has and will continue to govern wisely”.

He said his administration has sought the consultation of international experts “to make sure that the economy can sustain the implications to National Health Insurance”.

“Seven hundred avoidable deaths, tell me how do you rationalise 700 unnecessary deaths?” the prime minister questioned.

He was referring to an NHI report prepared by Costa Rican consultants Sanigest Internacional, which revealed that a little more than 700 deaths could have been prevented if those people had access to health care in 2010.

“That’s the be all, end all point. Those 700 deaths could have easily been 7,000 deaths and we are not going to do that to the people of this country. The enormity of that frightens the hell out of me. I know those people who died an unnecessary death are endurably poor people who weren’t getting the necessary medical attention or weren’t getting it on time.”

He said this kept him in “long” consultations with English and Canadian chartered accountants and consultants in an attempt to find the best possible way to introduce the “important” scheme.

“We now have consultants and forensic accountants who are looking at all that with us. National Insurance has now resorted to that because National Insurance knows that introducing NHI they must also not plunge the country into any form of recession.”

According to the Sanigest report, of which The Tribune has obtained a copy, the consultants have suggested a payroll tax ranging from one per cent to five per cent to finance NHI.

The report explores various other revenue-raising options, including levying a “sin tax” on alcohol and tobacco.

NHI could cost $633 million if implemented as a comprehensive package, Sanigest said.

Mr Christie stressed that the government is not stupid, and will do what is “right” for the country.

“I am determined to make sure that my government gives early consideration to what we are committed to and that is the formation of universal health coverage that would be introduced without a negative impact on the country.”

TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago

Comrade PM and his Minister of Health are playing scare tactics politics by pointing incorrectly to the 700 avoidable deaths. PM I support a no time is too soon or costs too great, to introduce aUniversal Health Care for the benefit of all the nation's people, but I must take issue why you and your minister of health, would lump the reasons behind the 700 deaths, as somehow being attributed to a lack of a National Health Insurance Plan? PM don't mess up what should be an easy sell Universal Health Care Plan.

Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 2 months ago

Vomit Christie couldn't care less about the health and welfare of Bahamians. This is a man who for years now has done nothing to prevent the garbage dump fires from spewing toxic fumes over thousands of helpless elderly individuals and very young children. Health experts estimate that the dump fires alone are responsible for the chronic debilitating illnesses and deaths of well over a thousand Bahamians to date. The only thing Vomit Christie has ever cared about is staying in office as PM in order to continue fleecing hard working honest Bahamians and their businesses so that he and his political friends and business cronies can live high off of your pocket book and the grease thrown their way by the foreign interests they help serve at your grave peril and expense!

ohdrap4 9 years, 2 months ago

catherine kelly reveals in today's punch that under the expanded national prescription drug plan, drugs will be free to civil servants, and others who are not able to pay like indigients and pensioners.

evryone else pays.

i am tired of civil servants getting a free ride, they already enjoy the national precription drug plan and private sector employess have to wait until they are pensioners.

Economist 9 years, 2 months ago

Some one has said that the number 1 cause of death for males under the age of 40 is murder. How does the NHI fix that?

ohdrap4 9 years, 2 months ago

no they lie with statistics. i say recalculate the life expetancy without male murders under age 40 and the expectancy is pretty good.

asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago

I am going to quit my job and become a bum, therefore government will take care of me. No sense working anyway, you still can't afford anything. Let the super rich like Perry, V Alfred, Brad, Them pay these taxes.

duppyVAT 9 years, 2 months ago

Perry ..................... do not ruin the standard of living of Bahamians any further with NHI 2.0.

SUGGESTION: Add a catastrophic medical benefit clause to the NIB and let us all pay another 1-2% on our NIB contribution BASED ON EACH CONTRIBUTOR'S PERSONAL HEALTH RISKS. Let it take effect after a specific number of contributions have been made by each contributor.

Do what HAI did with unemployment benefit and prescription drugs benefit. Let this new benefit become one that must be renewed by the contributor every three to five years as health conditions change.

That is my advice to you.

realfreethinker 9 years, 2 months ago

My advice to him is RETIRE let able bodied people take over. And pleas take shame,bwave,vagina gray,dr.gomez,maynard, ob,fwed wit you

The Tribune