By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Opposition's shadow Minister of Health yesterday asserted that the legal parameters were in place for the Christie administration to launch National Health Insurance (NHI), saying there was "no need for any concern".
Speaking with Tribune Business over concerns expressed by the Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) over the 'legality' of NHI's pre-election implementation, Dr Michael Darville, told Tribune Business that legal advice from the Attorney General's Office and the NHI Secretariat's in-house attorneys convinced the Christie administration to proceed.
The former government rolled out NHI's then-$100 million primary care on May 1. According to an NHI bulletin last week, more than 25,000 Bahamians and legal residents have enrolled in the scheme to-date.
"The Act went into force on April 5," Dr Darville said. "We didn't enact it in its entirety; just certain parts. The Minister responsible gave the permanent secretary the authority to go ahead, and start the client [enrolment] process.
"The reason we didn't enact the complete Bill is because we needed to put in place the Board [for the NHI Authority], and it was so close to the election that the Board itself would have been so questionable and its life would have only been a month or two."
Dr Darville's comments support several of the BIA's contentions. The insurance body yesterday called into question the acts undertaken by the former administration to implement the plan given that the NHI Authority Board had not been appointed.
The BIA said the Government had enforced Parts I, II and Section 45 of the National Health Insurance Act provide for the establishment, functions and powers of the NHI Authority, the establishment of the NHI Fund and other financial provisions. "All other aspects of the NHI Act have not yet been given the force of law, including the parts that establish the NHI plan, outline the eligibility for NHI, provide for enrollment for NHI and establish the framework as well as functions of regulated health administrators and health care providers," it added.
Dr Darville replied: "We believe that based on the advice of our in-house attorneys at NHI, as well as the Attorney General's Office, that we had the legal authority in order for us to implement NHI and to set up the capabilities to do what we had to do.
"We felt that we were in the parameters of the law. Looking at it, we believe that Section 9 of the Bill covers all of that and so there is no need for any concern."
Dr Darville added: "I don't think we have anything of any major concern. We did get legal opinions concerning it, and those opinions verified that the minister responsible, under the Bill, had the ability to enforce Parts I & II and give the permanent secretary of the NHI Authority the go-ahead for the contractual agreement with the providers and begin to set everything in motion. I believe that the legal parameters were in place for us to move the way we did to launch NHI during our term in office."
Comments
The_Oracle 6 years, 8 months ago
You would be the absolute last ass anyone would ever want to be in charge of their health care! Nothing the Government touches or takes over works, or has any over arching benefit for Bahamians. Your ineptitude is exceeded only by your arrogance and ignorance.
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