BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AFTER months of gearing up for the National Health Scheme, Health Minister and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Two Hon. Marcella Liburd told the people of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis that they could expect its launch within the next two months.
She made the statement while on a political platform in West Basseterre on Thursday (Oct. 17).
Liburd said that they are currently in the phase of interviewing providers to ensure that when people make claims the process is a smooth one.
"The National Health Scheme is progressing and we expect to launch within the next two months. Right now we have two providers who have put in bids to be the provider for the National Health Scheme, and so we are at the stage now where we are interviewing them to see how they are going to process the claims."
She then reminded the large gathering of the numerous benefits that would come with the government’s initiative.
liburd said that coverage would be provided for surgeries, air ambulance, dental work and eye care among a host of other cares. She explained that for the elderly and people who require nursing care at home, individuals would be on hand to assist and cafe for those needy persons.
"I want to remind you that in cases of older persons or even persons who are ill, you can have nursing care. That is, if you have no one to take care of you during the day when your family members have gone out, you can have someone come to stay with you during the day and that will be covered by the insurance as well."
She said pregnancy and mammograms would also be covered under this new Health Scheme, emphasising that this and more is what citizens could expect from the government’s healthcare system.
The Health Minister said that the health scheme is a "big thing" for the Federation, adding that "we will produce something that we believe will run smoothly and will cover all those who don't have any insurance".
"We will cover all our indigent persons and we will cover all of our children," she promised.
