VII. OUR AGENDA FOR A MODERN
BAHAMAS
Mr. Speaker,
My Government’s efforts and successes over the past four years do not begin
and end on the fiscal front, for we have
clearly understood - from prior to the
last election - that our nation confronts a
multitude of challenges that stand in the
way of a better future for all of our citizens. Accordingly, we have been driven
over the past four years by a mission to
effect fundamental transformation in the
pursuit of a modern Bahamas. Significant
problems plague our society and economy and we simply cannot continue to accept the status quo. Bahamians demand
a better future for themselves and their
child ren and it is my Government that has
taken up the mantle and begun to move
us toward a decidedly better future. Ours
is an agenda for a modern Bahamas, with
modern governance, a modern and more
prosperous economy, as well as modern
social programs and public infrastructure.
We began that process with the comprehensive change agenda of the Charter
for Governance that we shared with our
fellow citizens prior to the 2012 election.
Since taking office, we have doggedly implemented a number of reforms in the
various areas of that agenda, as I explained
in the last Budget Communication as well
as in this year’s Mid-Year Budget Statement.
While I will not repeat all of the details at
this time, it is nonetheless important to
remind this House and Bahamians of the
major reform measures that we have implemented. I will group these under the
four key pillars of future economic and
social development that were identified
in the recent State of the Nation Report.
This Report represents the first stage in
the preparation of a National Development Plan, to which I will return shortly.
The four pillars of development are:
• Human Capital
• Governance
• The Natural and Built Environment, and
• The Economy.
HUMAN CAPITAL
In the area of human capital, we have effected healthcare reform with significant
investments in both Princess Margaret
Hospital and Rand Memorial, as well as in
new and renovated facilities in the major
Family Islands; we have also worked toward the introduction of a National Health
Insurance scheme.
MODERNIZING HEALTH CARE AND
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
Mr. Speaker,
The provision of practical and cost effective Universal Health Care to Bahamians
remains a key priority of my Government.
The subject of National Health Insurance
continues to attract healthy debate among
medical practitioners and others; however,
my commitment, and that of the Government, to the accessibility and affordability
of basic medical services and the improvement of the quality of life for Bahamians, is
unequivocal and together with the involvement of leadership from the NHI Bahamas
Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, the
Public Hospitals Authority and our global
partner in healthcare, KPMG Bahamas, we
are committed to delivering health care
that is modern, affordable and accessible
for all legal residents of The Bahamas.
Mr. Speaker,
The implementation of NHI Bahamas is
reflected in our continual assessment and
evaluation of our medical professionals,
health care facilities, allocation of resources and effective delivery of services. All of
these elements are of vital importance to
the core of health systems strengthening
and an essential aspect of the successful
implementation of NHI Bahamas.
We have made significant investments in
the evaluation and assessment of our public health sector. We have evaluated our
public healthcare facilities, taken account of
the need for additional doctors, nurses and
other healthcare professionals, analyzed
the distribution of financial and material
resources and determined the deficit in
terms of availability, accessibility and quality
of services in our public sector.
Mr. Speaker,
Strategic Health Systems Strengthening
plans have been developed and are being
implemented to bridge the gaps in all areas
to support the implementation of National Health Insurance for The Bahamas.
Mr. Speaker,
It is unacceptable that, today, 70% of Bahamians still do not have health insurance.
Not being able to afford health care can
result in illnesses that are preventable; that
can be avoided through access to primary
care, which will be the first phase of coverage. It is also unacceptable that 32% of Bahamians who needed medical treatment at
some point did not seek it because of cost.
It cannot be underscored enough that in a
modern Bahamas this is our opportunity
to provide all Bahamians with the means
and wherewithal to obtain routine medical
services for themselves and their families.
The Ministry of Health, including the Department of Public Health and the Public
Hospitals Authority, have introduced extended clinic hours and increased administrative capacity and availability of services
in recent months.
Mr. Speaker,
Since the beginning of this year, the NHI
Secretariat has engaged in meaningful dialogue to educate all Bahamians about NHI
Bahamas. This has included presentations
to civic, corporate, religious, government
[11]
2016/2017
DRAFT
ESTIMATES
OF REVENUE &
EXPENDITURE