Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5482/-1/140/
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Government Beaten At NHF Deadline
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After what seemed to have been a rush to get the National Health Fund in operation by January 2008, the Anguilla Government has postponed the implementation date having been beaten to the race by a number of uncertainties as the deadline date approaches.
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Hon. Evan McNeil Rogers
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Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers, announced the postponement in a radio broadcast. “The Government of Anguilla (GoA) has taken a decision to delay the implementation of the National Health Fund (NHF),” he stated. “While the GoA had promised to deliver on this date, we feel that it is more important that we launch this initiative correctly rather than to rush to meet a deadline.”
The Minister explained that the Government had undertaken to consider a number of important issues raised during recent public consultations. “We are indeed listening to you,” he said in his broadcast. “For this reason, and a number of other reasons, we are delaying the NHF implementation date to give due consideration and to address the challenges that some of you have raised.”
Mr. Rogers went on: “One issue that has come up time and time again has to do with the quality of the health care services provided by the Health Authority of Anguilla (HAA). While there have been vast improvements since the inception of the HAA, there are still problems with which we must contend…
“Over the course of the next several months, the Ministry of Health will be focusing on improving the health care services for the entire island with particular focus on the HAA.
“The GoA wants to be sure that when the NHF goes live, that the public has confidence in the services being provided. In addition we want to ensure that appropriate technology and monitoring mechanisms are put in place.
“We have recruited the NHF Director, Dr. Anthony Snell, and he is currently in place. Dr. Snell along with the NHF Shadow Board will work diligently to ensure a smooth transition to the implementation of the NHF is achieved.
“Among the other issues confronting us is the sourcing of suitable IT systems, contracting with overseas institutions and negotiating with local medical providers.”
Mr. Rogers said that in the interim the Government would continue to provide coverage for its employees. He appealed “to the private sector and other stakeholders to continue their present arrangements of coverage for their employees, while the Government addresses the challenges of implementing the NHF.”