Government Warned To Forge Ahead With NHI:

By Rogan M. Smith -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Leaders of a group comprised of Bahamians in support of the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) warned the PLP government on Tuesday to fulfill its campaign promise to implement the health scheme or face being ejected from office in the upcoming general election.

Attorneys Paul Moss, Fayne Thompson and several members of the Bahamians for National Health Insurance group, said if the government allows itself to become sidetracked in its quest to deliver national health insurance for Bahamians it risks its dismissal in 2007.

They criticized insurance companies and doctors that have voiced their opposition to NHI, saying they are only opposed to the scheme because they have a selfish, vested interest in safeguarding their bottom line.

"We are demanding that the PLP government do what they promised in ‘Our Plan’ and pass National Health Insurance legislation at warped speed. This is what we require. This is one of the reasons we fought hard against CSME. That was not included in the PLP plan. Now, here we have something that was included in its plan, and we want them to carry through and do what is right. It’s a contract between you and us and we look forward to you not breaching that contract," Mr. Moss said.

"This is all about money for the opponents and they do not really care about the people of the country. I find it perplexing that those who took a vow to fight for patients are now fighting for profits."

Mr. Thompson said some people are starting to lose focus and are allowing themselves to be manipulated by those who don’t want the health insurance plan to be implemented. He said the NHI plan has become too political.

"One thing that I must criticize the government for is they have a lousy public relations exercise going on insofar as NHI is concerned. Dr. Bernard Nottage, bless his soul, is doing his best. But the individual man cannot achieve this initiative all by himself. The opposition has deep pockets and the campaign which they have launched, to some extent, has been successful," he said.

"Their campaign is ‘let’s slow it down.’ This is a political season. Perhaps if this had been done before [it would have been better]. Notwithstanding the timing and political season it’s still an initiative that the Bahamian people, if given the chance. . .will look at and embrace. It’s not perfect, but it rescues Bahamians from bankruptcy."

Mr. Moss said the government is not rushing this plan, but merely delivering on its campaign promise.

"How much more time is needed? How much more time must we allow people to simply walk around dying? It’s not being rushed. I submit that those saying that it is being rushed are simply those who do not want the plan," he said.

"You cannot say that a commission [Blue Ribbon] that has reported, has done its work and taken the time since 2002 to do its work and report two years later that it’s being rushed now in 2006. It’s not being rushed. In fact, they ought to do it faster than they’re doing it. It has been talked about since 1984. They have been derelict in their duties and they should do it faster."

Mr. Moss said there is a powerful minority that has voiced its objections to the National Health Insurance initiative.

"This is demoralizing when one recognizes that the objections are from groups and individuals who have access to quality healthcare, those who can pay for quality healthcare and benefit from the status quo remaining," he said.

"I do not see any person who does not have health insurance coming forth against this plan. This group – and I’m talking about those who control the economic wealth in this country seemingly control tremendous funds and could very easily drown out the majority of those who can benefit from National Health Insurance. We must resist this."

Mr. Moss accused the National Coalition for Health Care Reform, which includes private businesses, medical and allied health organizations and trade unions, of creating a smoke screen to distract Bahamians from the real issue at hand – providing quality health care for Bahamians who are unable to afford it.

The Coalition has strenuously denied that.

Mr. Moss said the NHI plan is not being rushed, but is timely.

He also addressed calls by some Bahamians to put the NHI to referendum. He said the Bahamian people decided they wanted NHI implemented almost five years ago, when they voted for the PLP in the 2002 general election.

29 November 2006

health