President of the Bahamas Association of Physiotherapists (BAPT) Dr. Christina Messarra said the association is concerned that if the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill 2016 in its tabled form is passed by Parliament, The Bahamas would be at risk of losing the opportunity to implement a universal healthcare (UHC) model that reflects a shared vision and shared principles.
"The government is hearing us but they are not listening to the 2,000 hardworking, committed stakeholders that currently deliver patient care services and support patient care in The Bahamas," she said.
"We must all continue to rally around the shared vision of UHC that we have all - stakeholders and government - publicly and vocally committed to if we are to achieve a NHI Bill and a UHC model that is uniquely Bahamian and proudly Bahamian."
Messarra told Guardian Business yesterday that if the founding organizational structure and funding mechanisms underpinning UHC are not rigorous, The Bahamas may fail to achieve a modern, affordable and sustainable model of universal health care.
In an email addressed to members of the United Health Care Advisory Council (UHCAC) and the United Health Reform Alliance (UHRA) on Wednesday, the association requested the opportunity to voice any concerns regarding the NHI Bill. BAPT also asked that the chair of the UHCAC consider requesting an urgent and extraordinary sitting of the Executive Steering Committee prior to the passing of the NHI Bill to enable the direct involvement of stakeholders.
BAPT wrote: "In the best case scenario, with successful implementation of UHC we could have The Bahamas and every legal resident of The Bahamas benefiting from improved health and improved health care.
"Failure of the successful implementation of UHC risks bolstering a quality of care that harms the patient, marginalizes the disabled patient and disenfranchises the poor patient. We are all the patient. We each suffer with the patient."
BAPT explained that according to the UHCAC terms of reference (TOR) the UHCAC functions to enable the direct involvement of stakeholders and functions as a UHC Executive Steering Committee subcommittee.
"The chair will represent the UHCAC at the Executive Steering Committee to enable the direct involvement of stakeholders. At the UHCAC orientation meeting BAPT introduced the patient as a UHC stakeholder. Patients are the stakeholders of UHC. The human lifespan makes a patient of each of us and all of us," BAPT said.
Messarra said BAPT recognizes that NHI is not UHC.
"The NHI Bill is intended to define the organizational structure and funding mechanisms for UHC," she said. "The Bahamas has committed to moving towards UHC. Regional and international audiences are observing our processes to achieve this end."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian