Government officials and many health care providers gathered at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Tuesday, September 4, for the soft launching of the National Health Fund. The event, chaired by Mrs. Rhonda Connor, consisted of an opening prayer by Pastor James Harrigan, welcoming remarks by the Director of Social Security Mr. Timothy Hodge and remarks by the Hon. Mr. Evans Rogers, Hon. Mr. Victor Banks and Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake.

Government officials and members of the NHF Shadow Board unveil the new logo

The purpose of the ceremony was to introduce the members of the shadow board and to speak in more detail about the purpose of the Fund, how it will be managed and when it will begin. All the speakers vehemently promised that the National Health Fund will be in place by January 1, 2008. The Fund will be in place to care for the future well being of all citizens, belongers and contributors to the Fund. It will ensure that no one is denied suitable care as long as he/she has contributed to it.
The Hon. Mr. Evans Rogers, Minister of Health and Social Development, spoke in great detail about the intricacies of the NHF. He mentioned that this was a momentous occasion for Anguilla and is necessitated by the rising costs of health care around the world. The NHF aims to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of health care services of this beautiful island of Anguilla and it will do this by closely monitoring the use of resources, strengthening the organizational capacity and improving the pattern of health care delivery services. The NHF will re-define the health care system introducing new means and ways of financing. The major idea is that consumers who normally have to pay out of pocket for health care will now place the majority of the financial burden on the Health Fund. The bottom line is that it will provide affordable and quality health care.
The NHF will be run by an independent body and it will function similar to the Social Security System. Mr. Rogers said that in order to have a NHF three things must happen: access to care overseas, an organization independent of government and physical changes and improvements must be made continually to the system.

Mr. Timothy Hodge mentioned that Social Security would be responsible for the collecting and accounting of the Fund.

The Hon. Victor Banks emphasized the fact that the NHF must be done right the fist time, therefore much preparation has gone into this initiative that has its roots back in the early 90s. He also mentioned that a new Executive Director has been chosen and will begin making preparations for the Fund by October 1. He then introduced the members of the shadow board that will initially be responsible for managing the NHF. They are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, Giesel Richardson-Gumbs who controls Inland Revenue, Director of Social Security Mr. Timothy Hodge, CFO of NBA Mr. Ian Ferguson and Rhonda Connor who is the Chief Education Officer.

Dr. Richardson-Lake then unveiled the NHF’s logo. It was designed by McMillan Thomas and read “Equitable, Affordable, Quality Health Coverage.”

The ceremony was closed with dancing performed by the Divine Dancers and a vote of thanks by Mr. Ian Ferguson.

The Anguillian will follow this story in the months prior to the official launch of the NHF and bring to its readers more details. Further information on the NHF is available at the Government’s website (www.gov.ai).

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