Doc says public is loser in N.H.I. postponement

For Belizean health care providers, today’s announcement that N.H.I. will be put into a coma, is a serious blow. Many doctors-turned-businessmen borrowed large amounts of money to expand their facilities and services, in anticipation of the countrywide health care plan. But according to Dr. Victor Lizarraga of Universal Health Services, the real losers will be those Belizeans who will be denied the opportunity for better medical care.

Dr. Victor Lizarraga, Chair, Universal Health Services

“A lot of this investment, without N.H.I. may not reach the very poor, and that is where we saw N.H.I. as a blessing indeed. And then…the pilot project came on stream and in fact showed that it really impacted most on the poor that needed the kind of impact that they had not been getting for a very long, long time.

I can’t see how really and truly you could take away N.H.I. from the southside without having a major impact. For instance, a major impact on health on the southside. When we opened our Integral Clinic, we immediately picked up a lot of pathology that existed in the community because of a lack of contact with health care and all those gains will be lost. And not only that, but the people from southside who are the main beneficiaries, especially the poorer people will react I’m sure.”

What will happen to the Belize District southside pilot project is not clear. Sources in the Ministry of Health say that an effort will be made to keep the programme going, perhaps with fewer free services being offered. As for those doctors and other investors who bankrolled expensive new facilities, it is expected that government will work closely with them until some long term relief can be provided.