The National Commission for Universal Health Care in St. Kitts and Nevis began its series of Town Hall Consultations in Nevis on Tuesday (November 20) in what officials described as an excellent start.
More than 30 persons, including Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley, attended the first meeting at the Bath Village Basketball Court. Members of the Commission presented on the Green Paper and engaged in an interactive question and answer segment.
Persons asked a variety of topics, including who will be covered by the national health insurance, is there an option to keep private insurance, how will the national health insurance (NHI) be paid for, and which agency will manage the insurance programme?
Shelagh James, Communications Officer for the Health Promotion Unit in Nevis, has been assisting the coordination of NHI-related activities on the sister isle. She said that the committee is extremely pleased with the turnout. Inclement weather in Nevis throughout the day (Tuesday) had caused some worries among organizers that very few people would attend; these concerns were unfounded.
Ms. James also cited the participation of Premier Brantley and said that it demonstrates that ‘the government cares” and is committed to seeing increases in the accessibility and quality of health service in the twin-island federation.
The Town Hall Consultations continue this evening (Thursday) at 7 pm at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Nevis.