The Tribune

BY NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

While the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will be responsible for protecting the rights of patients under National Health Insurance (NHI) it is expected that overtime a fully independent body will be established as a health ombudsman according to the NHI policy paper, with the Government said to be in the process of finalising a “Patients Bill of Rights”.

As noted in the recently released policy paper, entitled ‘Building a Healthier Bahamas’, “During the initial rollout of NHI Bahamas, the NHI Authority will be responsible for protecting the rights of patients under National Health Insurance. Over time, a fully independent body will be established as a health ombudsman”. The Patients Bill of Rights as noted in the policy paper, “will present a standard of care that must be followed by everyone involved with the provision and delivery of health care to any patient”. It will give patients a right to seek legal redress if the standards of care are not followed.

The NHI Authority will be responsible for the management of the National Health Insurance program and all associated processes of NHI Bahamas. “Specifically, the NHI Authority will serve as a regulatory body to administer National Health Insurance and to set criteria for approving insurers under NHI Bahamas and health care providers under NHI Bahamas. The NHI Authority will be governed by a qualified and professional board of directors, with board members carefully selected based on their thorough knowledge of and experience with the health care system, health insurance industry and other relevant qualifications,” the policy document states.

The Ministry of Health will consolidate the management of government health facilities, which are currently overseen by both the Department of Public Health and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

The policy paper says: “A new, single governance structure will manage the day-to-day operations of public hospitals and clinics with greater efficiency, transparency and attention to patient needs.”