UDP Demands Budget, Contractor Details on NHI Expansion

The United Democratic Party is turning to the Freedom of Information Act as it presses for answers on the countrywide rollout of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Today, the party announced it has formally requested key documents it says will shed light on how NHI is being managed, including budget proposals for this fiscal year and the next. The UDP is also seeking a full list of healthcare providers contracted under the program, along with details on who owns them. The move signals growing pressure for transparency as the government expands NHI coverage nationwide.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“Our representatives on the NHI committee have been unable to obtain critical information through regular channels. That alone is cause for serious alarms and concern by every Belizean who can hear the sound of my voice. Under the FOIA for NHI, we have requested a full list of all private and governmental primary care providers contracted to deliver NHI services in Belize. In the most recent house meeting the Minister of Health stood up and said that he believes, the Minister of Health stood up in the National Assembly and said that he believes that maybe we have seven public health care facilities who have been contracted to deliver primary health care services under NHI. You know what is the next ninety percent.  We need to know the names of these providers, the names of the owners.”

 

The UDP is also asking the Financial Secretary to provide a full breakdown of every service covered under NHI, along with the reimbursement rates attached to each one.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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