Bring back NHI and fix it, Walwyn urges
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has criticised the state of healthcare in the BVI and the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, arguing that the government has a perfect opportunity to fix the issues they have complained about for years.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently about healthcare funding, Walwyn called for urgent reforms to the NHI, labelling it a crucial step towards improving healthcare in the Virgin Islands. He emphasised the need for immediate action to address financial shortfalls and ensure the sustainability of the NHI programme.
Walwyn also highlighted challenges faced by the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), which currently struggles with a $20 million funding gap. According to the lawmaker, this shortfall severely impacts the quality of healthcare services available to residents and compromises the agency.
“I was listening to Tola Radio the other day, and I heard the Premier on Tola Radio talking about NHI and who should have done this and who should have done that,” Walwyn said. “The reality is, you’re in the seat now.”
He pleaded with government lawmakers to examine the system for pitfalls to determine whether anyone was ‘bleeding the government’. He added that plugging loopholes and addressing system exploitation are necessary steps. “If there’s something wrong with the NHI legislation, for God in heaven’s sake, bring it to the House of Assembly and get it fixed,” Walwyn urged the government.
Good system, poor management
Walwyn described the NHI as a good system that has been poorly managed, citing gaps in legislation and oversight as major issues. “We have got to do our job. The people at NHI are doing their best, but we have to do ours,” he said. “And even those who you hear talking bad about NHI, you let sickness grab them tail and you see how quick they run down the Road Town there, because half of us don’t have no insurance.”
The NHI, launched in 2016, was designed to provide affordable healthcare for residents, but it has faced numerous criticisms over issues such as delayed payments and inefficiencies. Walwyn pointed out that while $45 million is generated annually through services provided to the NHI and other fees, the system’s expenses total approximately $67 million.
The lawmaker urged Health Minister Vincent Wheatley to act decisively, stressing the importance of leadership in addressing not only the NHI’s financial woes but also the broader healthcare challenges residents face.
“Whatever is going on with healthcare, we have to fix it, Minister. Minister, you have to fix it. You have to advocate for those people to get the jobs, the resources that they need, and the financial resources to fix these things in the country. I don’t want to hear you’re going to be fixing it,” Walwyn stated.
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A territory of 40,000, of which maybe 20,000 are tax payers, cannot reliably sustain NHI, and definitely not when taxes withheld are not always forwarded to the public purse. Check with a health economist.
The same NDPs that screwing the system
Thank you for your comment , people have finally wised up after being duped and the blamed place on the wrong individuals . The fake sister from VG have Nothing to say , at least the Rep from the 6th seems to be taking some accountability. Unfortunately this publication was only to happy to go along with the narrative of placing blame on the Wheatley administration. How come the sisters not running to the Governor with this??
IT WAS HIS GOVERNMENT NDP THAT MADE THE NHI BLUNDER
A company made 50 million is 5yrs
THAT THE NHI IS BEING RAPED CONSTANTLY
It’s not a matter of “if there’s something wrong” but recognizing that somethings are wrong and have been so since inception. The poor NHI legislation has allowed some health providers to rape the system and year after year we sit by idly and do nothing! Despite having community meeting prior to NHI and residents expressing various concerns, the government of that day still pushed for it to go though without ensuring it was sustainable. Now here we are with this issue and no one is able or willing to fix it.
Wiggy Piggy yah out early today commenting. So if VIP starts let’s say the TBL airport project and don’t get re-elected and the new government find out that there’s defects in the project/process should they just continue with it blindly and not rectify the issues?
Dude, your logic stinks of selfishness and stupidity. Cut off your nose to spite your face….dingleberry!
Ok but even so then you dont just blame ONE party blame BOTH , but dont come witht the false narratives. So if need be then we ALL play politics.
RECALL THE NHI
recall just like Oboma care in the US ,,, oh but wait that dindt happen? why because people realized that it was actually useful and help. Refoem the program but lets not become like the selfish MAGA people in the US whose only motivation is denying benefits to people that actully need it. But even the MAGA folks found it effective and took it off the platform . Thats why you did not hear about it during the 2024 election from Trump.
THAT WAS REALLY FUNNY , “WIGGY PIGGY ” THAT DARK FUDE IS ALWAYS EARLY TO CREATE DRAMA AND WILL DO OR SAY ANYTHING TO MAKE NEWS , AND ALWAYS PLAYING – JUDGE -JURY AND EXECUTIONER ON ANYONE SO HE XAN GET ATTENTION WHICH HE SO CRAVES / IN THE HOA , HE WAX VERY DISAPPOINTED HECOULD NOT ADD LIPSTICK & ANDD FALSE EYELASHES , HE EVEN BLOGGS USING ONE OF HIS BOOK OF FANCY NAMES ( 2024 ) SO LETS SEE WHAT HE GOT FOR 2025 FOR HIS FANTASY ON ” FREE THE DREW ” WHICH WAS THE DOWNFALL OF THE NOTORIOUS ( B I G ) / GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION
NHI will not be addressed until it is totally bankrupt and we have no more funds to inject into it.
NHI just NEEDS to goooooo with immediate effect Walwyn you nah see the thing don’t make sense.
… is so delusional did he forget the amount of money he owes NHI for Staff at the m***ings we as a people need to stop saying what we think the public need to hear and lead by example Pay your outstanding NHi bill so your workers can get good coverage
NHI has its major shortcomings but it has been a help to many people who needed it. Who knows if we
Would not have had more casualties and prolonged sicknesses because some could not afford healthcare.
These guys were in there eight straight years why didn’t they fix the dam thing?