Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline is questioning whether the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme is delivering on its original promise, arguing that healthcare providers appear to be benefiting more than the people it was designed to help.
Speaking recently on his radio programme, Skelton Cline said the system was created to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly for vulnerable residents and those on the margins of society.
“The aim of the National Health Insurance Program was to draw a net across the country, capture, especially those at the margin and provide them access to healthcare at a reasonable price,” he said.
However, he argued that the programme is falling short of that goal.
“The only entities who are benefiting from the National Health Insurance are the healthcare service providers,” Skelton Cline claimed.
He further criticised what he described as years of promises from health officials without meaningful action to address ongoing concerns.
“No matter how many times the Health Services Authority tells you that they're coming to you with information, that we're making these moves, that this is going to happen, the truth of the matter is, ain't nothing happening. Just talk, talk, talk, talk, talk,” he said.
The commentator also raised concerns about primary healthcare and issues such as double billing, warning that the Territory is on an unsustainable path if longstanding problems remain unresolved.
NHI was introduced in the Virgin Islands to provide residents with greater access to healthcare while reducing the financial burden of medical treatment. The programme is funded through mandatory contributions from employers, employees and self-employed persons and was designed to improve access to primary and preventative care while ensuring broader healthcare coverage across the Territory.
Skelton Cline argued that greater focus must be placed on preventative healthcare.
“Primary care is preventive care. It's to avoid us getting gravely ill in the first place,” he stated.
Speaking recently on his radio programme, Skelton Cline said the system was created to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly for vulnerable residents and those on the margins of society.
“The aim of the National Health Insurance Program was to draw a net across the country, capture, especially those at the margin and provide them access to healthcare at a reasonable price,” he said.
However, he argued that the programme is falling short of that goal.
“The only entities who are benefiting from the National Health Insurance are the healthcare service providers,” Skelton Cline claimed.
He further criticised what he described as years of promises from health officials without meaningful action to address ongoing concerns.
“No matter how many times the Health Services Authority tells you that they're coming to you with information, that we're making these moves, that this is going to happen, the truth of the matter is, ain't nothing happening. Just talk, talk, talk, talk, talk,” he said.
The commentator also raised concerns about primary healthcare and issues such as double billing, warning that the Territory is on an unsustainable path if longstanding problems remain unresolved.
NHI was introduced in the Virgin Islands to provide residents with greater access to healthcare while reducing the financial burden of medical treatment. The programme is funded through mandatory contributions from employers, employees and self-employed persons and was designed to improve access to primary and preventative care while ensuring broader healthcare coverage across the Territory.
Skelton Cline argued that greater focus must be placed on preventative healthcare.
“Primary care is preventive care. It's to avoid us getting gravely ill in the first place,” he stated.
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