Opposition Demands Transparency: Calls for Key Players in National Health Insurance Scheme

Additionally, in yesterday’s presentation by the Leader of the Opposition, he called on the Briceno Administration to list the names of the key players and service providers under the National Health Insurance scheme.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Prime Minister brags on the expansion of NHI with signed contracts for 20,000 people from Orange Walk. But Madam Speaker, we would like the Prime Minister or his Minister of Health to provide the names of the three primary care providers and the details of the contract, Madam Speaker, for transparency, good governance and oversight, Madam Speaker, so that we can make sure another half a billion dollars is not wasted, Madam Speaker, and the Belizean people are still without. Madam Speaker, we pray that the Honorable Minister of Health or the Honorable Minister of Finance will share the names of the six laboratories, imaging providers and pharmacies that are in Orange Walk, Madam Speaker, that the NHI is dealing with. We, as the opposition, have an obligation, Madam Speaker, as I said to seek accountability in keeping with anti-corruption global best practices, Madam Speaker. We have $35 million, as I said, to expand the NHI but we need to see who are the players in the NHI expansion, Madam Speaker. There is dialysis, $3.5 million for dialysis, increasing the budget from $2 million to $3.5 but we want to know who owns the dialysis. We are hearing all sorts of things, Madam Speaker. And we would want the. honorable Prime Minister or his Minister of Health to answer those questions because we are hearing that family members are involved in health services all of a sudden which is the drive behind these expansions, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in the budget we don’t see who are the patients that are going to be acquiring these services which is what leads to these questions, Madam Speaker. So you have an increase in the budget and then some, cynically are saying they hear that the brother of the Prime Minister is in the business of dialysis, Madam Speaker. So we would like the Prime Minister to clear that up or the Minister of Health to dispel such rumours, Madam Speaker. As they say the Devil is in the details.”

There is much more to share from this year’s budget debate which we will broadcast in the newscasts ahead.