The proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme could have been further along if the government had not been "arrogant and incompetent" in its implementation process, according to Free National Movement (FNM) Senator Dr. Duane Sands.

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.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) President Emmanuel Komolafe said on Monday that more information on a timeline for implementing universal healthcare (UHC) would be obtained in the next few days.

Sands told Guardian Business yesterday 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.

"The government has a political imperative to roll out NHI just as they are going to cobble together something and call it mortgage relief," he added.

Sands said he believes that the government and stakeholders involved in the NHI process would be able to form a program that Bahamians could be proud of. But, he questioned when that program would be ready.

The outspoken cardiothoracic Surgeon went on to say that the United Healthcare Reform

Alliance (UHRA) -- a coalition of over 2,000 members -- is "a wonderful collaboration" but their efforts came too late.

And only two weeks ago the government announced the formation of a new UHC Stakeholder Advisory Council that would be coupled with private sector groups and special interest groups to influence the process towards UHC.

"There is work currently going on trying to get NHI right. That work unfortunately has been delayed by a few years because the government should have tried to do it with appropriate consultation in the first instance," said Sands.

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter

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