Bahamas News
Confusion over the National Health Insurance mounts
Bahamas, April 28th 2017: Confusion over the roll out of the National Health Insurance is increasing. Private doctors are today stating that their names are appearing on the list despite not enrolling and others say the PLP Government’s projections on funding for NHI are way off.
According to the NHI Secretariat, initial plans state that public sector doctors are required to provide primary health care. Reports suggest that approximately 60 private sector physicians had signed on for the scheme out of 306 registered primary care providers.
However, the Medical Association of the Bahamas says several private sector doctors were confused how their names appeared on the listing as NHI Providers when they were not enrolled. The doctors go on to further deem the process as rushed, providing evidence that the scheme was nothing more than a pre-election ploy by the PLP Administration.
To-date, over 3,000 people are said to have enrolled in the NHI.
Another grey area looming over the NHI Enrolment, is questions on how it will be funded.
Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez, this week said NHI was being funded by the “public purse but could not continue to do so” and that other means were being looked at including taxes. Enrolment for the National Health Insurance started on Monday, just two weeks before Bahamians go to the polls. Prime Minister Perry Christie went on record to say that $100 Million was allocated for NHI primary care, sourcing it from a mixture of funds ‘repurposed’ from other budgetary allocations and tax revenues including Value Added Tax (VAT).
PM Christie went on to add that the fund, will also receive $24 to $30 Million annually to cover ‘catastrophic illnesses’, despite The Bahamas’ national deficit swelling and the country seemingly unable to afford it.
While the FNM has promised in its manifesto that the health insurance plan will be implemented, with what it promises as a ‘robust healthcare component’. There is no further explanation on what that means or who would pay for it.
Since first mentioned, the NHI Plan has been met with apprehension. The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation has warned that its implementation could signal shrinkage in the economy and the Medical Association of the Bahamas describes the existing budget of $100M touted by Christie, as small in comparison to what is paid now to private insurers.
It was hoped by the Christie Administration that a larger number of private doctors signing up for the NHI, would help to “remove some of the burden off the public system” and thus give it ‘breathing room’ to be strengthened.
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RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).
In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.
King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.
King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “
Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.
“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.
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