Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez admitted yesterday that a delay of the primary care services phase of National Health Insurance (NHI) is "likely". The primary care phase is scheduled to begin in April. Following a press conference at the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), Gomez was asked whether it was feasible to roll out primary care services in six weeks.
"Delays are no problem," said Gomez, as he walked out of the building toward his car, the media following. "It (the delay) is not going to be forever... There may be some delay."
Asked whether a delay was likely given the outstanding components of NHI, Gomez said, "It is likely it will be delayed. So, let's wait and see."
When pressed on the matter, Gomez said, "You have all your answers."
Before The Nassau Guardian could ask more of the minister, he said he was expected at Cabinet and left. It has been many months since the health minister has commented publicly on NHI.
Last year, Prime Minister Perry Christie took personal responsibility for efforts to spearhead the scheme. Doctors and insurance companies have not yet come onboard with NHI. The enrollment phase has also not started. The government has not yet brought the NHI Bill to Parliament.
National Insurance Board (NIB) Senior Deputy Director Cecile Bethel indicated recently that NHI registration cannot start until NHI legislation is passed to allow NIB to share information about its registrants with the NHI Secretariat. According to NHI Project Manager Dr. Delon Brennen, the accompanying regulations have not yet been finalized. Brennen admitted on Friday that the NHI Secretariat is unclear when enrollment will begin.
When he was asked about the delay of primary care services, Brennen said, "We don't know whether it will be delayed or not."
He said while there are still many unanswered questions, it was too early to say for sure whether the primary care services phase will be delayed.
"I think we have to come to an understanding that we are pushing our hardest to move it (the implementation date) to as early in this process as possible. But I think we do have to be realistic as these things progress that there may be times when things get moved. We as an NHI movement are trying to be as honest and open with the Bahamian people as we can. And from our side, we want to let you know that we are working as hard as we can to do it, but we all have to play our part. And we could push with providers (doctors), but if providers don't sign up, we're in trouble."
There have been calls for a delay from various stakeholders.
On Sunday, the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) called for the government to delay the April launch of primary care services until it can overcome some of the challenges that continue to plague the scheme.
Last month, the CPSA, along with the Medical Association of The Bahamas (MAB), the Grand Bahama Medical and Dental Association, the Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU) and the Bahamas Association of Family Practitioners demanded that the government respect the views of stakeholders and come up with an NHI plan that all stakeholders can buy into. They warned that doctors would not sign onto the scheme unless their concerns are addressed. It remains unclear how much the total scheme will cost.
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