While asserting the need for a National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme in The Bahamas, CEO of Doctors Hospital Charles Sealy admitted that its implementation will lead to a rise in costs for the healthcare system as a result of increased technology usage and the current health of the country's population.
Sealy told Guardian Business that NHI Bahamas is something that should have been done "years ago".
"Yes, there is going to be increased cost. Technology is one of the factors. The other that is contributing is the health of our population.
"We have a sick population. And the sicknesses that we have in our particular population on this side of the world are very costly, especially if you respond to them later on," said Sealy.
The third phase of NHI, primary care benefits, is expected to be implemented in the early part of 2017.
Sealy explained that primary care could help to reduce the cost of healthcare for patients by making them aware of any illnesses at an earlier stage.
He added that healthcare providers have been treating patients at later stages of their illnesses that are "very expensive" to manage.
"However, you also have now with the introduction of technology, the cost that comes with that. That's an increased cost to the health system, all health systems," Sealy continued.
Nevertheless, Sealy said he believes that Doctor's Hospital is "sufficiently ready" to be involved in NHI and primary care at no extra cost.
"In terms of the staffing, that is in place. We also have, as far as I am concerned, the infrastructure from a technological and services standpoint to be able to meet the demands there.
"I am sufficiently satisfied that we didn't have to do anything additional in terms of an increase in cost.
"There is an increase of information and acquisition of knowledge that becomes a necessity. We want to make sure our team is up to speed.
"We do look from the standpoint of getting involved in primary care; we want to access additional facilities across the islands, and that is a cost that has yet to be determined.
"As far as preparation at this juncture, the only thing we are doing more than anything else is preparing the team, passing on the information as we get it from the government," said Sealy.
Health expenditure
Sealy also commented on the overall impact of government health expenditure on gross domestic product (GDP) as a percentage, which remains relatively high in The Bahamas.
With the introduction of NHI, Sealy was asked if there would be a decrease in that percentage over the next five to 10 years.
"You are probably not going to see it that quickly because you are going to be managing illnesses that are current," he said, projecting a reduction in health expenditure would come about in "more like 10 years".
"I think we have to look at it from the quality of health for our people and the education of our people. This move through NHI is going to create more awareness and more information," he said.
"There are a number of islands where certain health topics are taboo. So I think this awareness is going to make it a much better place for us to provide healthcare."
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