NHI: Keeping The Promise:

Bahama Journal Editorial -
Nassau, Bahamas:

The time is now in the Bahamas to set partisan politics and self-interest aside to introduce universal and mandatory health insurance for all Bahamians.

We agree with our own experts and leaders and we do so with the International Labor Organization experts who gave the Bahamas’ proposal the "thumbs up" sign.

Today, there is no gainsaying the fact that the process has been steady, deliberate and responsible. The attentive public now wants to know whether the government they elected in 2002 has the guts and gumption to do what it has promised in its book of promises, Our Plan.

That same public that voted them in is that same public that can and will vote them out if they fail to make good on the solemn promise of National Health Insurance.

That same public is quite aware of the fact that you get nothing for nothing and very little for your penny. In other words, they know that they will have to pay for any improved services they get.

Since so-called ordinary people are not as foolish as some other privileged ones might wish to believe to the contrary, these same people know that others will be obliged to carry their fair share of the burden.

This is what is needed in any situation where there is a public commitment to ensure the achievement of the common good. After all is said and done, this is precisely why the people vote for this or that party. They do so because they have faith enough in one party that they will do what they have promised.

In this regard, we agree with those people who have concluded that there is a direct correlation between economic development, national development and the health of a people. Indeed, Caribbean Heads of Government were so convinced of this truth that they adopted the Nassau Declaration, that "The Health of the Nation is the Wealth of the Nation".

Closer to home, a commission of distinguished citizens was appointed to review the health challenges of the region and to make recommendations as to how they might improve the health of their citizens.

We recall that one of the recommendations that they made was the need for universal access to affordable quality health care (NHI).

That Blue Ribbon Commission was summoned to examine the capacity of the health system to meet the health needs of the population and to recommend the most feasible financing arrangements for meeting those health needs.

Members included representatives from the public and private sectors, the Medical and Nursing Associations, private insurers, the Christian Council, Business Community and civil society.

We were entirely satisfied with this roster. We respect its judgment. So should the government. We also know that the Bahamian people cannot and will not eat clichés about how it is that the heath of the nation is the wealth of the nation.

And for sure, we want all and sundry to know that like other Bahamians who are leery of politicians who always talk a good talk, we want to see some action.

That is why we want the debate concerning National Health Insurance to be taken to parliament for discussion and requisite action. That is where these issues are to be fully discussed, fully debated and voted on.

The Minister of Health and National Insurance is absolutely correct when he says that "the time for this action is long over due."

Today, therefore, we go on record as being in full agreement with the current administration as it moves forward with the National Health Insurance project.

This project is timely and is in the interest of the Bahamian people.

Not only do we support this project, but we are quite truthfully tired of all the talk that has been going on concerning this long over due initiative.

From where we sit, there is an impression that is coming in clearer and clearer by the day that the government is giving far too much credence to those people and interests that would sacrifice little or nothing for the common good.

In this regard, our advice is simple, blunt and to the point. It is that the matter involving National Health Insurance should be taken to that place where parliamentarians discuss issues, vote on them and then and thereafter produce laws.

That is why we have a parliament.

That is why today we say enough of this chatter about National Insurance!

28 November 2006

health