By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A trade union leader is “definitely” backing the Government’s proposed National health Insurance (NHI) scheme, stating: “The days of cook-outs are over”.

Trades union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson said there was “no question about it” when it came to the umbrella body supporting insurance for all workers.

“The TUC supports insurance for all workers in the Bahamas irrespective of their status, whether manager or non-manager. As long as you are a worker you are entitled to have access to insurance. I take the view that health insurance is critical,” said Mr Ferguson.

The Government has announced it intends to implement NHI in January 2016. The programme has been proposed as a means of providing universal access to affordable healthcare for Bahamians.

Parliament passed an NHI Bill in the final months of the 2002-2007 Christie administration, but no regulations were ever finalised to enforce the legislation and bring it into effect. The Government has now engaged Costa Rican healthcare consulting firm, Sanigest Internacional, to come up with the costs and benefits package for NHI.

When initially introduced in the early 2000s, NHI was estimated to cost $235 million annually. Dr Perry Gomez, minister of health, said the Sanigest report that will detail implementation costs for the NHI initiative could be completed by month’s end. Dr Gomez also confirmed that efforts were on target for the 2016 launch of universal health coverage for all legal residents in the Bahamas

“I support it, the TUC supports it and, I think, most workers would support it,” Mr Ferguson said of NHI. “The days of cookouts are over. You spend $1,000 to net $300. It’s worth it. We take care of everyone else. Millions of dollars, we are underwriting these major companies, $200 million, $30 million, but we have difficulty providing a basic situation for the workers of this country.”