22 days to go - and still no NHI legislation

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

By TANEKA THOMPSON

Tribune News Editor

tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

WITH 22 days left until the proposed start of National Health Insurance, the Christie administration has yet to present legislation that will govern the healthcare scheme, something prominent heart surgeon Dr Duane Sands sees as further mishandling of NHI’s implementation.

When contacted for comment on the timeline for NHI legislation, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said the government is aiming to produce the bill sometime in January 2016.

However Dr Sands, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former Free National Movement (FNM) senator, said the absence of the legislation shows that the government is “rushing” to roll out its universal healthcare plan and “making things up” as it goes along.

“If you are going to be registering people (for NHI) beginning in January, the only legal basis by which the government is able to collect sensitive information from the public is if they have the enabling legislative authority to do so,” the former senator said. “This is not a whole lot different than the National Intelligence Agency - you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

“Where is the legislation that gives the government the authority to do it? What are you going to get in exchange, how will that information be protected, who will have access to it, etc?”

“The legislation for NHI has not been passed, it has not even been tabled, when you look at the fact that the junior minister with responsibility for legal affairs, Damian Gomez, has said that he is not aware of what’s in the NHI legislation, isn’t that a very telling thing?”

Dr Sands added: “It hasn’t been vetted by the Attorney General’s Office, it hasn’t been put on the agenda of the House of Assembly, we are now almost at the end of this parliamentary session at least prior to Christmas. It has not been debated; it hasn’t been referred to the Senate, so how do we in the beginning of January 2016 begin registering people when we don’t have the legislative authority, when there is no law in the land to permit it to happen?

“Do we just trust the government? Are we a country of laws or are we a country that just does things ‘willy-nilly’?”

Dr Sands added that if NHI is a true priority of the government, the legislation would have been drafted earlier and already presented to Parliament.

“It speaks to the fact that it is rushed. It speaks to the fact that there is a political imperative which is overriding all other reasons and rationale to get this thing done. So if it is so important to start this thing in January and bear in mind that I have said ‘let’s get on with it, but let’s do it right,’ then let’s get to work. Do the work that you are paid to do, do this thing properly.”

Yesterday, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said the government was focused on NHI’s implementation and would not be swayed by critics.

“Our people are our greatest asset,” she said. “That being so, we must do all we can to protect and enhance good health and access to medical care. We intend to provide NHI to Bahamians and we are not distracted by naysayers.”

The government plans to introduce the first phase of NHI, which is registration for the programme, on January 1, 2016. The programme will be phased in over a period of five years, the government has said.

However the Christie administration has not revealed how much NHI will cost and has faced criticism for not being transparent about the plan.

Insurance industry stakeholders and the FNM have called on the government to delay NHI due to confusion and push back over the plan.

Last week, the Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) said the proposed NHI model constitutes “a hostile takeover” of the private health insurance sector by government.

The BIA predicted that NHI would destabilise the health insurance sector, which they expect to have a snowballing affect on the entire insurance industry.

Comments

Honestman says...

Intelligent Bahamian professionals are wasting their time trying to reason with this Mob-like PLP government. The implementation of a National Health scheme in any country is a MAJOR UNDERTAKING that needs to be carefully planned and prepared way ahead of time. NO LEGISLATION IS IN PLACE less than three weeks before the supposed roll out date!!! This desperate bunch of self seeking incompetents would rather railroad through a scheme that has no chance of succeeding without the backing of ALL stakeholders (including US THE PEOPLE) than admit that economic circumstances have worsened forcing plans to be deferred. This cabinet is so pre-occupied with "saving face" and staying in power - this is all that matters to them.

Posted 9 December 2015, 2:17 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

This government is NOT Mob like, it is straight up the Bahamian MAFIA!

Posted 9 December 2015, 2:47 p.m. Suggest removal

cmiller says...

NHI is like something in a paper bag that nobody knows what it looks like. When Perry pulls it out, he will probably scream!!!! If you don't laugh at all of this nonsense, you'll probably never stop crying to see where we are going as a country!!!

Posted 9 December 2015, 2:42 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades I have been vocal against the government's original Universal Care provision that would dictate who your health care practitioner would be. A positive change will now allow you to pick your own health care practitioner.

Posted 9 December 2015, 2:57 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

This cannot be true!!!!!!!!!!! ................ or is this another PR gimmick by the PLP like the University of The Bahamas (delayed) or National Referendum on Gender Equality (delayed) or Mortgage Relief (delayed) or BTC buyback (delayed) or newBEC(delayed) or Bahamar (delayed) or Freeport taxes (delayed).................................. need we say more????????????

Posted 9 December 2015, 3:04 p.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

When will Bahamians finally say enough is enough and march on Parliament and demand that the government delay and consult on NHI,demand that they give an accounting for the VAT revenue expenditure. The unions block Bay Street and the bridge whenever they want something from the government, and they usually get it, so why don't the citizens who are sick to death of being spit and sh...t on by thieving politicians do the same?
Its time to tell PGC and the gang that if they won't be accountable to us their employers we refuse to pay anymore, pass whatever tax bills you like we simply won't pay.
What will they do then, imprison us all ?

Posted 9 December 2015, 4:12 p.m. Suggest removal

TruePeople says...

Because we have problems coming together as a people... just look at the murder rate. All the disenfranchised youth here COULD collaborate to affect positive change.... but instead they killing each other like dogs....

And the politician laughing all the way to the bank

Posted 9 December 2015, 4:27 p.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

So true

Posted 10 December 2015, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

I wonder if Christie knows that NHI is supposed to be in place come January 1, 2016???

Posted 9 December 2015, 4:44 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

Lol lol lol. Man listen......... the Bahamas is comical at best.

I know that these issues are quite serious and dont warrant a comedic response. But honestly....... I have to laugh, or I'll cry........ seriously.

Our very lives including our loved ones and our country is on the line..... yet here we sit leaderless, rudderless, clueless, behind Perry Christie and the PLP. Ohh God, this man is hapless and worthless to say the least. PGC has to go down as the worst PM ever in the history of the Bahamas.

Posted 10 December 2015, 11:28 a.m. Suggest removal

I agree

Perry is not going to do anything ground breaking on January 1, 2016 ................ he has no budget to do anything beyond a glitzy press conference, some flyers, a UR2.0 band performance, some glowing speeches and .......... registration of possible primary care patients and setting up a "fund" to treat "special referred cases" .......... do not expect anything before the next budget in June 2016 when the PLP will really start their election gimmicks

He better be careful of the doctors and insurance fellas who are watching their nest eggs like hawks ................... these privileged groups are very wary of the lawyers (the unholy trinity)

Posted 10 December 2015, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal

I suppose Perry has started his PR campaign ............. the CMO is on a talkshow right now

Posted 10 December 2015, 1:35 p.m. Suggest removal