By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE multi-million dollar implementation of National Health Insurance will be “another tax burden” on the backs of already struggling Bahamians, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

In its first of three phases, NHI is expected to cost tax payers around $350m.

Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez has previously said NHI will be a contributory scheme funded by National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions. It is scheduled to see a phased roll out beginning in January 2016 at an overall cost of $600m.

However, Dr Minnis questioned the decision, calling on Prime Minister Perry Christie to shed more light on exactly how NHI will be financed.

He criticised the government for “finding yet another way to impose financial hardship” on Bahamians which he said will soon increase with the January 1 implementation of value added tax (VAT) at a rate of 7.5 per cent.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Dr Minnis said, “I believe all Bahamians should have good healthcare. They deserve it.

“But the government needs to inform the public as to what new tax will be introduced. Where is the money coming from to fund this insurance? If the government has this kind of money, then the Critical Care Block should be fully opened and functioning so that we can see a reduction in the backlog of surgical procedures. That is the bigger issue here.

“Open the mini hospitals on those islands where they are already built and build hospitals that were promised on the other islands.

“If Prime Minister Perry Christie has the money, then tell us and the public where it is coming from. We are simply just tired of all the rhetoric.”

Last week, Mr Christie told supporters at his party’s mini convention in Exuma that there were far too many poor Bahamians dying because they could not afford healthcare.

At the time he said: “There will be better health care, better access to health care. Take this to the bank with you. On January 1, 2016 we are rolling out National Health Insurance. We are doing it.

“And I can tell you the first phase is a minimum of $350m. You go to the second phase and the third phase and we’re talking about $600m. But the point is we are rolling it out in phases, covering particular diseases and medical ailments. All of that you will be told of in the coming months as we go into the New Year. We are going to govern in a transformative way.”

Sanigest Internacional, a Costa Rican accounting firm, was contracted in April to calculate the overall cost of NHI. Since receiving the report three months ago, the government has not made it public.

Consultations are now under way as the government forges ahead with NHI implementation.