and non-government entities. The Secretariat consistently makes itself available to
any and all organizations which request
their presence for a presentation and discussion around NHI. They have traveled
across The Bahamas, meeting local residents and speaking at town hall meetings
in most islands. Before the end of this
budget year every island would have been
engaged in discussions on the National
Health Insurance Programme. I am advised that these presentations are being
well received and that the general public
is calling for the implementation of NHI
Bahamas without further delay.
Additionally, over the last twelve months,
the NHI Secretariat has consistently and
assiduously collaborated with stakeholders
to improve the manner in which we can
collaborate regarding NHI Bahamas. Although public consultation regarding the
NHI legislation has concluded, stakeholder engagements will continue in order to
further develop the roadmap towards the
phased implementation of NHI Bahamas.
[12]
2016/2017
DRAFT
ESTIMATES
OF REVENUE &
EXPENDITURE
Mr. Speaker,
These stakeholder groups have included:
• The Bahamas Association of Physiotherapists
• The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce
and Employer’s Confederation
• The Bahamas Chiropractic Association
• The Bahamas Dental Association
• The Bahamas Doctors Union
• The Bahamas Insurance Association
• The Bahamas Nurses’ Association
• The Medical Association of The Bahamas
and
• The Pharmacy Association of The Bahamas
Mr. Speaker,
My Cabinet has approved a single governance model that will accelerate the implementation of Universal Health Coverage while providing effective oversight of
the Programme. The approved, integrated
Universal Health Coverage governance
structure will allow for quick and effective
decision making with transparency and
accountability, as well as the alignment of
health systems, and will result in greater
efficiency, continuity of care and the seamless delivery of patient-centered services
in the Government health sector.
The accepted Integrated Universal Health
Coverage governance model that my Government has adopted, following the recommendations of KPMG, is in keeping with
our commitment to work with stakeholders to shape the design and implementation of Universal Health Coverage and
support the advancement of health system-strengthening goals. Additionally, the
Universal Health Care (UHC) Stakeholder
Advisory Committee is being formed to
improve the health of Bahamians through
ongoing stakeholder engagement and continuous collaboration.
Mr. Speaker,
The budget allocation for the Ministry
of Health reflects an investment in primary care coverage and health systems’
strengthening that will significantly improve
the quality of life for Bahamians. This will
reveal itself in shorter wait times, improved
facilities, more doctors and Bahamians living longer and healthier lives in a modern
Bahamas.
In any event, when we are advised that
Bahamians are generally the worst off in
the region and some say in the world with
respect to the incidence of diabetes – a
most debilitating and life changing disease.
Then, we must readily accept that there is
a compelling urgency to launch a National
Lifestyle improvement Programme for all
Bahamians with special emphasis on our
school population.
IMPROVING HUMAN CAPITAL
DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE
AND MARINE SCIENCES
Mr. Speaker,
The low academic level of human capital
in the Agricultural Sector of The Bahamas
is a major impediment to growth, poverty
reduction and food security in the Family
Islands and in the inner communities of urban Nassau, and to some extent, Freeport.
The establishment in September 2013
of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine
Science Institute (BAMSI) served to create a tertiary level academic curriculum
which would offer Associates degrees,
Diplomas, Certificates and a Skills Training programme to students training in the
technologies associated with crop and livestock production and marine and fisheries
resource development. Several weeks ago,
the College of The Bahamas (COB) and
BAMSI negotiated a collaborative agreement where the qualifications to enter
BAMSI are the same as those for entering
COB. There will be student exchanges and
collaboration with facilities on teaching
and research assignments.
In addition to the COB agreement, there
are also agreements with the University of Miami, University of Florida, Ocean
University of China and one pending with
the University of the West Indies School of
Agriculture in St. Augustine, Trinidad. BAMSI is about knowledge-driven development
of our agriculture and marine resources
and the Institute is now a member of the
Caribbean Council of Higher education
in Agriculture (CCHE). The Bahamas was
accepted as a member of the Caribbean
Agricultural Research and Development
Institute (CARDI), the premier agricultural
research entity in CARICOM, and CARDI
will have its offices on the BAMSI site in
North Andros and will add a new dimension to its research programme by giving it
regional credibility. Bahamians working as