The strong opposition to the government's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme by healthcare and insurance professionals is no surprise given the Christie administration "doesn't listen to people" and has continued to ignore input from those industries since the onset, according to Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, who called for the plan to be delayed until all the problems are "ironed out".
"We will not have things rammed down our throats anymore," Minnis said, noting complaints about a lack of consultation with stakeholders have been a major issue plaguing the government's NHI agenda. It is now the people's time and people want involvement within the government, moving forward. Full stop."
More than 2,000 healthcare and insurance professionals are a part of the newly formed United Healthcare Reform Alliance (UHRA).
The professionals say they are "unequivocally opposed" to the current version of NHI.
Minnis agreed with UHRA's stance, explaining the professionals don't oppose universal healthcare itself, but rather how the government is rolling out NHI "without proper consultation and involvement" with stakeholders.
"The Christie administration doesn't listen to people. That's the bottom line," Minnis charged. They have displayed that from day one when they refused to listen to the people with the (2013 gambling) referendum. They are only keeping the same [behavioral] patterns they've displayed from the onset... [Prime Minister Perry] Christie and those refused to listen. That's their problem. They don't listen."
Asked if he thinks the healthcare and insurance professionals' opposition to NHI is embarrassing to the government, given NHI is a key plank of the government's agenda, Minnis said, "I don't know if they know what embarrassing means. They have no shame... When the man has no shame and does not understand what embarrassment is, then there's no such thing as embarrassment."
UHRA insists the current NHI plan is flawed and unsuitable for The Bahamas, and called on the government to delay NHI's implementation indefinitely.
Minnis, however, stopped short of calling for an indefinite delay to NHI, when he was asked his thoughts on UHRA's comments.
"I'm not saying indefinitely. I've said it before that NHI needs to be delayed until it is completely discussed, the problems are ironed out, and we know that we have a program that is sustainable, affordable and will benefit all," he said. "We do not want discriminatory medicine. That's what all the healthcare professionals and the insurance agencies are saying."
Medical and insurance professionals have pointed out that "there are a lot of cracks and inefficiencies" in the system that need to be addressed, Minnis noted.
"Deficiencies in terms of shortage of medical supplies, shortages of personnel, shortages of equipment, the bed situation, long waiting lines, all of these need to be addressed," he said. "Let us correct the foundation before we proceed with the construction."
Minnis said healthcare professionals have been pointing out these "deficiencies" to the Christie administration, but to no avail.
He said the "whole problem with the plan" is that there hasn't been adequate discussion and consultation.
"The health professionals and the insurance agencies and professionals were advising them [the government] from day one that we must all sit down together so that we can work out a proper plan that would be acceptable to both the Bahamian populace and the caregivers," Minnis said.
"And what the grouping who have gotten together - the health professionals and the industries [UHRA] - have said, basically you need to sit down and listen. We want a plan that not only works today, but works tomorrow... We want a plan that will exist today and is sustainable tomorrow."
The Bahamas Insurance Association, the Medical Association of The Bahamas, the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, and other groups representing the nation's doctors have, for months now, been criticizing the government for "insufficient" consultations with stakeholders on NHI.
On Wednesday, UHRA officials said they are working on an alternative plan for universal healthcare, as they are not satisfied with the current model, and intend to present the plan to the government within the next eight weeks. On Sunday, the prime minister insisted the government is committed to launching NHI this year. It had planned to roll out the primary healthcare component of NHI this month, but announced a delay last month following recommendations from its new consultant, KPMG.
Dana Smith
Guardian Staff Reporter
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