Minnis: National health to be another tax burden

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.

Comments

asiseeit says...

So who will this plan help? Bahamians can not access health care at the PMH now due to the amount of illegals that are up in there. This will just be another cash grab by the political elite who will never use the scheme and drain it of all funding for them and theirs to live large on the backs of poor Bahamians who can not afford more taxation. The Government of The Bahamas has a sad history of taxation with no return. It seems the only ones who receive a benefit from Bahamians paying tax are the politicians and their crony's. Sooner or later the people will get fed up and push back, god help us when that day arrives!

Posted 8 December 2014, 11:05 a.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

in the us, after an illegal stay in the hospital, they get deported
and when that day arrives this 3 score and ten crew will be long dead

Posted 8 December 2014, 2:57 p.m. Suggest removal

duppyVAT says...

Just look at the USA, Canada and the EU welfare and health systems and imagine The Bahamas going down that same road ................. catastrophic economic consequences for a debt-ridden government.

Posted 8 December 2014, 3:10 p.m. Suggest removal

countryfirst says...

It all sounds good but we can not afford another tax aren't Christie and his boys satisfied with the money they are gonna get from VAT there is no end to their greed.

Posted 8 December 2014, 3:21 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

No - you are wrong. Bahamians have to understand that the Haitians that they employ, and who frequent the clinics, are absorbing medical care and supplies that cost money. The Govt cannot continue to pay for free health care for your illegals workers. It is time for Bahamians to pay some money to Govt to balance out for the "cheap" labour they are employing.

Public services cost money - and maybe when Bahamians have to start paying taxes to cover the costs of them - they will wake and up and ask "Who is getting the benefit from my taxes?"

Posted 8 December 2014, 10:26 p.m. Suggest removal

duppyVAT says...

When you look at the situation like that, it should send the law abiding citizens a clear message

Posted 9 December 2014, 10:20 a.m. Suggest removal

BoopaDoop says...

and don't forget about the taxes from the legalized gambling.

Posted 9 December 2014, 9:51 a.m. Suggest removal

legend_eleuthera says...

Just another PLP red herring that will benefit the 'intended' benefactors nothing but will benefit those PLP's in the house, their cronies, family and snuggly business partners and we will be their bitches. Really think and do NOT pay. The bastards deserve less than a tenth of what they ALREADY GET!

Posted 24 January 2015, 7:58 p.m. Suggest removal

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