Bahamas Press

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•    The fact is that this Bill DOES cost. It is NOT FREE. The FNM  itself has said that contributions of 1% will have to be made by employed, self employed and voluntary members.

I was waiting for the good Senator as an educator to decry the shameful state of education and health care in The Bahamas. Both are in shambles. This is important to note and URGENTLY address. It is not a political matter. It is a matter of SURVIVAL of Bahamians in the 21st century. The famous U.S. actor and vaudeville performer Will Rogers once said “The health of a nation is more important than the wealth of a nation”.

This statement certainly applies to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  Some people say the sun, sand and sea are our most valuable resources.  I say that our people are our most valuable resource.

We have a service oriented economy.  So that our economy may develop and flourish, we must invest in our people. What Bahamians want and what we need  is a comprehensive national health insurance plan.

We do not need game playing especially with our most important resource, our people.

The Government will, for an unspecified period of time, pay for prescription drugs for certain categories of people.  The medical establishment has already pointed out that all of the chronic diseases are not covered.  Further, serious questions arise as to how a contractual relationship will exist with pharmacies and most especially since the Pharmacies Act has apparently not been brought into force And a very serious question arises as to whether Government or the patient’s doctor is to decide which drug will best treat the condition suffered by the patient.  The Government has taken a one size fits all approach to medication for the various disorders. [talk about the various drugs available for hypertension etc.]

I do not agree that we as a nation of 360,000 people cannot afford a comprehensive national health insurance plan.  Further, I reject the suggestion that experts said that we could not afford a National Health Insurance Plan.  They and we too recognize the need for careful monitoring of cost and service.

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