P.U.P. Launches its Plan Belize Health Policy
As the coronavirus pandemic batters the health system, the People’s United Party this morning rolled out a health plan that it says will make healthcare efficient, affordable and accessible to all. The plans seeks to first and foremost roll out the national health insurance programme across the country , the upgrade of the K.H.M.H. and existing health facilities across the country and where there is not, the construction of new facilities. Another pillar involves investing in the human capacity of the health personnel. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
In keeping with its people centred manifesto, the People United Party established seventeen committees to address issues across the country, for which health is a top priority. A good health policy, says the P.U.P., must reflect the reality of the public and private sector and must be in line with the needs of the nation.
Marco Tulio Mendez
Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Head, Health Committee, P.U.P.
“In this health policy, primary care for the community base is going to be strengthened. But also our health services will be restructured and modern technology implemented to improve the efficiency and the quality of healthcare. There is no doubt that with this health policy, the accessibility to healthcare, the affordability and the quality of healthcare is going to improve.”
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Area Representative, Cayo Northeast
“A P.U.P. government will work to develop an integrated national health system for Belize where the main goal is universal health coverage for everyone. Because we are committed to excellence in clinical and primary healthcare, we will work with all partners who engage in health services to rebuild a health system that can be measurable by the outputs and outcomes for who it is supposed to serve.”
The health policy promotes preventative healthcare, creating healthy communities, and transforming the healthcare system to save lives. The main goal is universal health coverage to everyone by the year 2025, particularly the poor, indigenous and elderly. The plan is practical and affordable and seeks to realise a true national health insurance for all Belizeans.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores
“It places the N.H.I. as the backbone of our system and people at the centre of the benefits. This blue plan will bring down the high prices of medication. I believe all residents of Caribbean Shores should get a yearly basic health check up. A real and urgent N.H.I. roll out can make a huge impact for our healthcare needs.”
According to Doctor Lesbia Guerra, healthcare is a fundamental human right and a public good that must be guaranteed to all. Currently, only one hundred and twenty-six thousand one hundred and eighty three Belizeans benefit from health insurance.
Lesbia Guerra
Dr. Lesbia Guerra, Public Health Specialist
“This doesn’t include Belizeans from north side Belize City, Cayo, Orange Walk and Stann Creek Districts and most of the Corozal District. This lag in its extension to the rest of the country has clearly generated inequalities leaving seventy percent of Belizeans to pay for their healthcare whether through impoverish public health institutions or through private health insurance.”
The P.U.P. plans to enact legislation to define the national health insurance fund to guarantee the sustainability of the scheme. Leader John Briceño says that it will fix what he says is a broken health system.
John Briceño
John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader
“Today, we are beyond the breaking point and the task of fixing the system will require serious work and will require more than an electrician. The main focus of our plan for healthcare is the full roll out of N.H.I. The N.H.I. programme was started by the last P.U.P. administration. Since then, this U.D.P. administration has done everything to diminish this programme which was built especially to help struggling Belizeans. Today, N.H.I. is a shadow of what it once was, yet the high cost of healthcare is one of the biggest concerns of poor and middle class Belizeans. Let me reiterate that the next P.U.P. government commits to provide universal primary healthcare affordable and free at the point of delivery. Our goal for the complete roll out of N.H.I. is for every Belizean man woman and child to be included.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
