The Tribune

Former MP Pierre Dupuch questions Shane Gibson’s reasoning regarding the proposed National Health Insurance plan.

Before the hecklers shout “conflict of interest” let me say that the position I take now is the same as it was when I was Shadow Minister of Health from 1982 to 1992 (ask the Prime Minister, he should remember).

It is true that today I have a son, a daughter-in-law and a nephew who are doctors here. I have a sister who is a retired nurse in Canada, two grand-nieces who are doctors in Canada and a daughter who has her Masters in Nursing and is now training operating room nurses in Atlanta. The hands on knowledge I have gained from them only solidifies my position.

I read with horror Shane Gibson’s comments published in the press two weeks ago under the headline “National Health and Greedy Doctors.” He stooped so low and lied so much that he could have walked upright under a snake’s belly. But congratulations, Shane; you’ve finally reached. You have finally mastered the political art of speaking fluently through every orifice of your body with your mouth shut and your brain closed down!

What bothers me most is Shane Gibson’s reasoning regarding National Health Insurance. He’s either dumb, has an ulterior motive or, most frightening of all, he hasn’t got a plan. He doesn’t know the cost, he doesn’t know where the money’s coming from or where it’s going.

So he must try and distract the public’s attention from the facts by blaming “greedy doctors”. Shane, this is not 30 years ago. Today, in case you didn’t know, the Bahamian people are smart to mouths like yours.

Shane Gibson says he’s worried about the little man. Is he? I visited a dentist last week and when I got my bill, 7.5 per cent was added for VAT. I gladly paid it but wondered how the “little man” could afford it? The Bahamas is one of the only countries in the world that charges VAT on medical fees. Wow, and Shane Gibson said he was interested in the little man? Nonsense, man, what’s the real deal?

Your answer is probably going to be: “Well, National Health will take care of that!” Maybe. But why did you include VAT in the first place? After all, you folks who claim to be so concerned about the “little man” put it there.

You say that doctors don’t care about the people’s health, and that they don’t support your plan. True, they don’t support your plan because it’s lousy, and does not fix the problem. Doctors are continuously telling you they support National Health, but you insist on bullheadedly pushing a plan that will hurt, not help Universal Health Care. Get your head out of the sand, man!

Out of one side of your mouth you say that people can keep their doctor, and from the other side you claim that you will give doctors quotas. Now let’s be practical. What if Dr Lunn, who is my doctor, is assigned 300 patients and I am 305 on the list? What sayest thou, almighty Gibson? I could end up with a junior doctor at the Princess Margaret Hospital, couldn’t I? No, you didn’t lie to the people by telling them they could keep their doctor, you just didn’t tell them the truth, did you?

You say “greedy doctors”. Well, let’s see. Do you know how many hours doctors give free to sew up gunshot wounds because you, Mr Gibson, can’t control crime in this country? Maybe you should be the one fired, eh Mr Gibson? Do you have any idea how many “free” patients these “greedy doctors” see per day? How many do you see “free” every day? I have a feeling that you’re the kind of guy who would try to squeeze the milk out of the bull on the five cent piece!

But you insist that the poor man/woman pay 7.5 per cent VAT to see a dentist or doctor? Come now Mr Gibson, have you looked in the mirror lately? Are you really concerned about the poor person? You’ve got to be joking! You’re interested in getting votes by fooling the people! That’s what you’re interested in, isn’t it Mr Gibson?

You say, “There will be no more cook outs.” Really, Mr Gibson? People don’t have cook outs for belly aches - they have cook outs to raise money to pay for catastrophic health events like strokes or major operations, etc. The problem is, Mr Gibson, your plan doesn’t cover this.

But I’ve just read another one of your statements where a “special fund” will be created to take care of “selective” catastrophic events, and this money will be in the “consolidated fund”. Well, well Mr Gibson, isn’t the consolidated fund the fund into which all monies collected by the government goes? Is it not the same fund the VAT money goes into?

Is it not the same fund that the Government had to bolster by borrowing $30 million the other day? Is it not the same fund that you “greedy” politicians will dive into to get the raise you speak about? Is it not the same fund that finances all those fancy trips that you parliamentarians take with your large entourages? I have a feeling that the “special” fund to care for “selective” catastrophic sickness will be very small and very “selective”. Maybe big enough to care for your “buddies,” eh Mr Gibson?

What your plan is offering is already in place now. Clinics are used for exactly what you’re offering. Nationalising health care won’t solve the problem of overcrowding; it will add to the confusion! Government can’t run the clinics efficiently now; what makes you think they’ll be able to run a National Health Plan?

This brings up another subject. It has been said that the government has been “well advised”. Please tell us who is advising the government? How was the contract for the “advisors” determined? What were the background checks? After all, the public should be told how their money is being spent and who are these people and how much are they getting paid to “well advise” the government.

Has the government ever read:

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/default.aspx?companyid=412289

Last, but not least for now anyhow, the rumour is that if the doctors don’t co-operate and do what they are told, then the government will bring in doctors from Cuba and China. They certainly would be cheaper. While Mr Gibson is there recruiting these doctors, maybe he should also recruit some government ministers from there too. They certainly would be cheaper than the ones we have now, and they certainly would know that pineapples don’t grow underground!

I agree, let’s have Universal Health Care, but let’s do it with sense - not just to get votes!