Construction of Central Medical Stores Cannot Be Funded with NHI Reserve Fund

According to the memo, the request for the grant funding is to build a Central Medical Stores in Belmopan.  Doctor Young says that such a request does not fall under the areas that can be funded from the NHI Reserve Fund.  

Dr. Colin Young, C.E.O., S.S.B.

“First off, I don’t envisioned that any contractor would apply. In fact if you would see the memo it was a memo sent to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health would be the entity that would make such a request.  I will tell you that base on my reading of section seventy eight three, I don’t believe that the purpose that is in the memo would fall in one of the areas that can be funded from the NHI funds.”

Hipolito Novelo

“How can the monies be used?”

Colin Young

Dr. Colin Young

“Monies can be used looking for beneficiaries of health services and prescription and the purchasing of prescription of medications and so on for the beneficiaries.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Can the government of Belize still access the funds?”

Dr. Colin Young

“Remember this is government of Belize money that they give to the NHI. That is in the law. Once it goes to Social Security then it falls under the procurement and management guidelines of the Social Security Board and S.S.B. has a board and they are the ones who have to make resolutions to vote any money from the NHI fund and in this case the board has to comply with the legislation. There has to be used for what the monies are provide for. I can’t speak for the Ministry of Health in terms of what was requested. I think we have all seen the response from the Prime Minister in terms of the response to the Leader of the Opposition’s letter in the sense that the issue that Ministry of Health has to respond to. I suspect that you will talk to them is why would they make such a request.”