Mounting skepticism about the feasibility of a National Health Insurance scheme were squashed on Tuesday with one top health official affirming that The Bahamas is in a “fairly good position” to implement the health plan.
According to Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission on National Health Insurance, Dr. Perry Gomez, based on the opinion of many experts, the country is better poised than most to move ahead with the initiative.
The plan would provide Bahamians with equal access to quality health care.
“A national health insurance scheme for The Bahamas would be achievable without too much difficulty…there’s no question about that, particularly when compared to other countries, whose schemes have been implemented long before and are without the type of infrastructure we have,” he told The Bahama Journal Tuesday.
Dr. Gomez pointed out that one of the benefits The Bahamas enjoys is its network of clinics, a primary ingredient for quality health care.
But as it stands now, hundreds of Bahamians are forced to hold private fundraising events, like cookouts to defray mounting medical expenses.
Since appointed by Prime Minister Perry Christie last year, the Blue Ribbon Commission has examined the National Health Insurance models of several countries, including Canada and Bermuda, while also studying Singapore’s example.
However, according to Dr. Gomez, the country’s national health insurance scheme would generally mirror those circumstances unique to The Bahamas.
“We can appreciate what Bermuda went through, their problems and successes,” he said. “But they are quite different from The Bahamas.”
“There’s mainly private health insurance available for everyone because of their small population. In addition, they are without the social problems we experience, like immigration.”
Dr. Gomez reiterated that while The Bahamas already supplies significant private health insurance coverage for its working population, the costs involved are “too expensive.”
In 2001, the government spent in excess of $140 million on health care for the country,collecting less than $5 million. When compared to the years 1984 and 1988 when some $47 million and $80 million were spent respectively, the government’s return was similar with less than $3 million recovered.
Given that the population continues to grow, Dr Gomez said the government “cannot continue to afford such expenses.”Having recently presented its first phase of its report to Cabinet, Dr. Gomez feels confident the Commission will remain on target in delivering a final report to the government by the end of the year.
After receiving that report, the government will make a decision on whether to introduce a national health insurance plan.
While Dr. Gomez has hinted that such a plan would be feasible, there are some in the insurance industry who have questioned what funding mechanism the government would put in place to support such a scheme.
Chief Executive Officer of Bahama Health, Alan Mytty, said in an earlier interview with the Bahama Journal that issues regarding who will and will not be covered under the plan are secondary to what the cost estimates would be and who would pay for it.
“Within the next 15 to 20 years, the cost of health care for Bahamians 65 years and older will increase dramatically,” Mr. Mytty said. “So, with the aging of the population and the increased call for technology and services, expectations for healthcare are skyrocketing, and both the government and the private sectors have to be prepared to acknowledge what those costs are going to be. How do we support this type of programme in the present state of our economy?”
Insurance Executive Gerald Strachan added that the national insurance plan should be all-inclusive, providing full comprehensive coverage.
“Whoever gets the service should pay for it as a form of tax, or the plan can perhaps make provisions for certain services,” Mr. Strachan said. “For instance, there could be a limit on what services would be provided retirees, who may take out a private insurance plan to supplement what the government is hoping to do. In no way then would the government have to cover the entire cost.”
By Macushla Pinder, The Bahama Journal
