Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 31, 2018 (SKNIS): Government’s plan to introduce Universal Health Coverage in St. Kitts and Nevis is drawing closer with the expected completion of a draft proposal and the launch of public consultations in early October 2018.
The proposed timeline was outlined by Minister of Health, Honourable Eugene Hamilton, at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on Thursday (August 30). The report on the way forward to establishing free universal health insurance coverage is being put together by the National Health Insurance Commission launched in February this year. The team has being working with officials from the Health Economics Unit at the Centre for Health Economics, University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad.
Minister Hamilton said the commission members have been very busy working to establish the appropriate protocols and mapping out the way forward for government to introduce the initiative designed to bring relief to families who struggle with healthcare costs.
“I am advised that by October, early October ... that they will be in a position to present to the government the path to follow and then Cabinet will make a decision,” he said.” I am also advised that at that time, early October, the commission should be able to undertake consultations throughout the country, engaging every social partner including the political parties in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis so that what we implement will be fully understood by the general public and embraced by the general public because of the consultation process that will take place.”
If all goes as planned, the minister stated that the national health insurance initiative could launch in February 2019.
Honourable Hamilton expressed the desire and commitment of the government to help its fellow man, particularly as it relates to reducing the devastating financial impact that treatment for related conditions caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and the like, can have on personal savings.
He added that through this programme, government was living up to its responsibility to deploy the national resources of the country to improve the lives of all citizens and residents.
“We believe that if we have ‘the world’s goods’ we should ensure that those who are less fortunate, that those who are in need, benefit from our stewardship,” Minister Hamilton said.
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