The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A trade union leader said yesterday that ensuring there was no “drop-off’ in health insurance benefits currently enjoyed by his membership was among the major concerns with the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

Bernard Evans, the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) president, confirmed he and other union heads had already had a ‘preliminary meeting’ with the Christie administration’s new NHI consultant.

The Government has contracted Dr Mark Britnell, chairman of KPMG’s 4,000-strong global health practice, as its latest NHI adviser.

Mr Evans said of their meeting: “It was just a preliminary meeting. He provided his experience with NHI in over 60 countries around the world. He seems to have a grasp of how this system is supposed to work.

“One of the things we recognise is that having a healthier nation increases productivity, reduces the amount of sick days, for instance.

“We expect to have a follow-up meeting. We definitely want to be at the table. We want to ensure that there is quality of service, and there isn’t a drop-off in the kind of benefits we currently enjoy. That, for us, is one of the key concerns. If we are expected to pay for NHI, we want to ensure that with the current benefits that we enjoy, there is no drop off in that.”    

The Christie administration plans to roll out primary healthcare for NHI this April, with the more expansive $400 million Vital Benefits Package to follow some time within the next year.

NHI’s primary care phase is projected to cost just over $100 million for the first year.