NHI is the latest version of VAT ..................... another tax is coming after 2017 election

Of that you can be sure!

The actual issue in this debate is that the Bill ought not even be debated at all since no Act can be enacted without the accompanying Regulations. This is the same thing the PLP did in 2006, passed an NHI Bill with no Regulations, hence no actual NHI could take place. And they are doing it again - but don't count on the FNM to make it clear to the Bahamian people this essential and salient point. They will just go on with the "debate" as though they actually have a Bill before them that can be enacted.

Many Acts presented give the Minister concerned carte blanche power to enact Regulations for their respective Acts ........... no democracy there

Constitutional Dictatorship :D

Every bill presented, every act passed since 1992 gives the Minister powers beyond what any of them can or should be trusted with, with the words "summary conviction" present in all.
Conviction without fair trial, on the whim of a politically elected official.
That is bad news no matter who you are.
That is probably unconstitutional, but is any thing they do constitutional?
Try a straight dictatorship. The constitution has been abandoned intentionally.
Nationalism,
fascism,
socialism,
they all end up as dictatorships.
Micromanagement is a primary tool, along with manipulation of the press, and constant crises,
often Governmentally created.

Comrades in the PLP Cabinet. Why act like the Red Movement to sell BahamaCARE as socialized medicine?
It has be single payer. But single payer will mean for most part the government will get the hell out of owning the hospitals. We don't need physicians being on the government's payroll.
And you must stop with the selling of BahamaCARE as a new tax. It is not a new tax in the true sense of the word - tax.
I am surprised the leader of the Government in waiting would not be using his years of medical training and expertise in the health field to lead the charge for BahamaCARE?

PLP = BahamaCARE ................................ FNM is not into socialized healthcare ............... who was in charge of Physicians' Alliance?????

yeah absolutely not. Privately owned Healthcare is expensive AF. Obamacare is a half shelled out version of what you are talking about and it's hella expensive and needs improvement. Many are paying MORE than thy previously paid, while others have paid the same or less. I stand tantamount against complete privatization of our healthcare system. there should ALWAYS be public in a country like ours. Subsidies should be in place to encourage private hospitals but even that is a stretch. The cost of healthcare would skyrocket

Comrade Alex-Charles, the numbers workers exiting the private health care plans are soaring because of skyrocketing unemployment, higher premiums and increased policy holders deductibles along with more excluded treatments. Far more Bahamalander's are forced into going without any private health care than those with it. Private health care as we know it, is as discriminatory against the poor as it is a unfair form of blood sucking capitalism practiced for maximizing its greed.

you're feeding into exactly why I stand against fully privatized healthcare. The government should own some hospitals, which you argued against. Capitalism and public healthcare don't blend well in the slightest. Public health, even obamacare, is a socialist concept

10% VAT after the next election.More poverty,more hunger and if this government cannot keep the clinics supplied now how the hell will they fund NI. Pure political bullshit and P M
lies.

It's time for a new style of politics in The Bahamas. The PLP and the FNM between them have shafted Bahamians for over 40 years. Both parties need to be abolished. Unfortunately changing the mindset of an electorate that still believes these jokers are there to represent their best interests is the biggest stumbling block to change. It really is time for these parties and their useless leaders and ministers to just go away. I agree with Rollins that this whole NHI scheme is nothing more than a carrot to dangle in front of an uneducated PLP voting block. Catastrophic cover is what is really needed. Unfortunately the only sector that can pay for that is the private sector who are being taxed into oblivion. You cannot get blood out of a stone but these idiots in government will promise that you can in order to get re-elected and the chance to steal the remaining crumbs from the Nation's cookie jar.

A study should really be done on who votes for the PLP compared to the FNM ................ is that the reason why Minnis is ghetto-izing the FNM???????

Comrade Sheeprunner 12, go ask Papa Hubert for your answer?

Comrade Alex_Charles, Dr Duane and like-minded out there advocating for reforming the health care system are not representing the workers who complain about the escalating higher costs of their work deductible premiums, restricted treatments either not covered or skyrocketing co-pays . And in a growing number of cases their employers are passing on the higher premiums costs directly to the paycheques of the workers.

Who owns Physicians Alliance??????? ............. that is the 800 lb gorilla in PMH that is creating the mess with the fees being forced upon the poor people ......... who made that deal to have a private hospital within the public hospital??????????