Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says his ministry intends to review the national health card as the Government looks to transition to a comprehensive national insurance system by 2018.
“Our manifesto which is our policy speaks to a national comprehensive system which will give all citizens the basic right to be treated at any institution of their choice and receive health care to which they are entitled,” Deyalsingh said, in an interview at his Park Street, Port-of-Spain, office yesterday.
He said the conversation needed to be changed from one about the national health card to one about national insurance.
The proposed national health insurance system would see all citizens given access to health care at any facility of their choice, whether public or private.
Asked whether his government’s policy had considered some of the problems with the health card, such as lack of access to free medicine by non-nationals in this country, Deyalsingh said the issue was not insurmountable.
Many legal residents of T&T who are non-nationals complained shortly after the introduction of the national health card that they were being denied access to medicine.
Those living in the country for years have to get approval from immigration authorities before applying for a health card but the process is slow and it delayed them in getting their medication.
Former health minister Dr Fuad Khan had said implementation of the National Health Card would discourage the practice of unregularised non-nationals seeking free medical attention at public health institutions.
Deyalsingh said the plight of non-nationals would be considered during implementation of the new insurance system.
“We will pay attention to non-nationals while we look to build the system. These are not insurmountable obstacles.”
Deyalsingh said, at present, anyone could go to any public health care facility and be treated free of charge.
“I have worked on the wards as a clinical pharmacist and that is the reality.
“Anyone can go to any health care facility and receive treatment.”
He referred to the government’s policy, which describes it as essential that the country move swiftly to introduce the long-awaited universal health insurance programme, “especially for vulnerable groups.”
According to the government’s policy document, the insurance system would require partnerships with the insurance companies and the private health care providers, to establish suitable costs, accountability, quality assurance and standards of care for medical procedures.
“With an appropriate health insurance system, financed by the Government in partnership with the private sector, all members of the public will be able to access high quality health care at any health facility, whether public or private, regardless of their personal financial circumstances,” the document reads.
Fuad Khan responds
MP for Barataria, San Juan, and former health minister Dr Fuad Khan said Deyalsingh needed to come clean with the public about the cost of a national insurance system.
“The national insurance system means that they have to pay for a service. The health surcharge is nowhere near enough to cover that cost,” Khan said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Told that Deyalsingh intended to review the national health card, Khan said when governments changed, the new administration was entitled to make changes.
“If Minister Deyalsingh sees it as a better way for him then he may do as he wish. The health card was a springboard for accountability and then we planned on looking at national insurance.
“What I was doing was using the health card as a foundation before we went the way of national insurance. People arrive at the same points at different directions. If he thinks it is not necessary. I will assist in any way that I can.”