BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE long-awaited implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme may not be coming on stream this year, rather, the government is eyeing its third anniversary as the launch period.
This comes as the Ministry of Health - and by extension government – is still carrying out consultations on the way forward for the programme.
Health Minister the Hon. Eugene Hamilton, speaking recently with SKNVibes, stated that the groundwork has already started towards the implementation of the scheme.
“I am targeting, for example, the third anniversary of Team Unity, which is next year to be the launch of that programme. We are doing things in phases,” he said.
The development of a national insurance scheme has been a long-standing promise made by the government.
They had indicated that a number of consultations would be held to gain valuable feedback from stakeholders and the public on what should be included in the plan.
Hamilton explained that they have consulted with the University of the West Indies, along with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with the former submitting a proposal.
“We have had just a few consultations, basically to determine whether we want to use those persons as consultants...I believe that we have seen their proposal and we are looking at it and decisions would soon be made on where to go with it.”
In a very short time, Hamilton said, they are expected to roll out the plan, with the public receiving more details on what is included in the overall scheme.
Since announcing the start of consultations, the Ministers of Health have expressed concerns over the growing number of persons being diagnosed with non-communicable diseases.
That could prove to be a major challenge to the National Health Insurance Scheme, as more persons would be seeking treatment under the plan.
They have therefore made calls for the public to change their diets and lifestyles to minimize the possibility of being developing these ailments.
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