President of the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association (BPA) Michelle Finlayson said that it is "very unlikely" that National Health Insurance (NHI) would be rolled out this year. In fact, following the first meeting between the United Health Reform Alliance (UHRA) and the NHI Secretariat, Finlayson estimated initial implementation would not take place until January 2017.

The third phase of NHI, access to primary care, was delayed in April. Shortly after, it was announced by Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez that a new date would be set six months from then. However, the government's silence on a new date in the recent budget communication raises the question if the primary care phase would even be implemented this year.

Speaking with Guardian Business yesterday, Finlayson said it is unlikely that NHI would be implemented this year. "I don't see that. It is very unlikely. Really and truly, each stakeholder still has concerns," she said.

A meeting was held yesterday for UHRA members and individual  associations to engage in discussions about plans to further consultation and negotiations for moving forward with NHI.

"Nothing specific was given as to the date. The only direction that we were given was that we can expect now to have more meetings and more discussions moving forward to come together to have a formalized plan. We expect to have meetings on a regular basis," Finlayson said.

After the meeting Finlayson told reporters that, "We are talking about initial implementation within six months, with reviewing over maybe six years to even 12 years. Like I said, this is an ambitious roll-out, and we will see how closely government is able to keep the timelines as presented."

"We understand that it is a process... The intention is to move forward with NHI. Really and truly, an exact date could not be given. We understand that the framework itself will begin. We expect to perhaps within the next six months to at least have a dialogue  with all of the stakeholders," she said.

Meanwhile, KPMG consultant Dr. Mark Britnell said he was "overjoyed at the progress made in the first meeting."

"There is a very strong commitment from all stakeholders to achieve universal healthcare as quickly as possible for the people of The Bahamas. We have heard "We want money spent wisely, we want the health system to be strengthened and we also want the full and active participation, consultation and engagement of all stakeholders in civil society and of course across the health services as well"," he said.

And Edison Sumner, CEO of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, welcomed the meeting, particularly on behalf of the employers in the country -- who Sumner said ultimately will be the ones to pay for the scheme depending on the payment mechanism.

"We thought that the meeting was productive. It showed that they have done some research, they have obviously put in a lot of thought as to how they want to roll this out, how they want to advise the government and stakeholders on the process going forward.

"So we are looking forward to being a part of it, on the advisory council side," he said.

Meanwhile, Free National Movement (FNM) Senator Duane Sands told Guardian Business this week that the government will roll out some form of NHI this year because it is a political imperative for them despite several challenges with the scheme.

"Whether or not NHI's first phase makes sense, is economically viable, or has any benefit for ordinary Bahamians is not the point," said Sands.

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter

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