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NHI going back to Labour Ministry for 2022

Premier Andrew Fahie has disclosed that the National Health Insurance (NHI) portfolio will once again be reassigned to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour & Immigration.

NHI was first reassigned to that Ministry back in 2020 to allow the Ministry of Health & Social Development, which is overseen by Carvin Malone, to increase its focus on healthcare during the COVID-19 era.

As a result of the extended reassignment, the Labour Ministry — led by Vincent Wheatley — is receiving the largest share of the territory’s recurrent allocations — some $51.2 million or 14.3 percent of the budgetary allocations.

According to Premier Andrew Fahie, the reassignment of the NHI to the Labour Ministry is part of his government’s “streamlining of systems”.

Fahie said his administration was previously pumping more than $40 million per year into the NHI scheme, which he argued will bankrupt the government if the programme continues in its current form.

He had also advocated for a reduction of the dependency that he said most local healthcare providers have on the NHI.

Premier Fahie, in the meantime, said the allocation to the Ministry of Health & Social Development in the 2022 budget is $34.2 million or 9.57 percent of the recurrent budget.

The leader of government’s business said the Health Ministry has had a “lion share” of challenges during 2021, as they did in 2020.

Premier Fahie said this was due in part to the ever-changing dynamics of having to anticipate, plan, prepare and respond to the many issues of COVID-19.

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12 Comments

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  1. Reality Check says:

    So long as Social Security is managing NHI there is some hope for its future. With Labour and Immigration running a close second to Inland Revenue for the most poorly managed departments if they are allowed to mess with NHI there will be no hope for its future. Please put your attention on managing those three departments properly and efficiently, using SS as an example for management excellence!

    Like 13
  2. Srange says:

    Is there a Ministry of Health? Is there a Ministry of Social Services? Either two I believe will be the best choice.

    NHI which is administered by SSB is under Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration? What is the true motive behind this move?

    Like 10
  3. Resident says:

    nhi will fail because the government allowed the health care providers to raise their prices so much so soon

    Like 17
  4. The Nation... says:

    HOw can a health insurance facility be tied to labour and immigration? Is this part of the NWO reset??? It should be under health. Is social security under labour and immigration????

    Like 12
  5. Sage says:

    I do not understand the rationale for this. How will the Ministry be able to efficiently run a third department when two are already too much to manage? Look at what’s happening at the Labour Department right now. Work permit renewal applications are now taking months to be processed. If you are lucky to get a response on the phone and you ask to be transferred to anyone’s extension you’d be lucky to get a response from that extension. The online work permit process isn’t working! Appointments for payments must be done online in order for payments to be made in person at the Labour Department. Most appointments are weeks away from the day you submit an application online. This is an inefficient process since persons must still show up at the Labour Department twice!

    The Minister must address the current work permit situation which has gotten worse over the last several months. There is also the requirement to pay for immigration entry permit extensions because a work permit renewal application is taking several months to be processed. Why should employers or employees have to spend an extra $25.00 each time for an extension when it is no fault of their own that the work permit renewal applications aren’t done within the 2-week timeline?

    Please make it possible for payments to be made online so that persons do not have to go to every department. Not only would this reduce the congregation of persons at the departments but also the face to face interactions and exposure of the officers. Persons will also be spared the inappropriate language and behavior of the security officers at the department, especially the one frequently stationed at the Immigration Department.

  6. Unconventional leadership says:

    Really!!! How does this make sense. The labor ministry is definitely not the most appropriate place. But even if it was dear God in heaven would you put it under the weakest minister the world over. That minister needs ministries taken away from him and you adding. For the next year and few if Britain dont take over this guy should be on the back bench until election where the only bench he would be entitled to would be a park bench somewhere out of site.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  7. Bled dry… says:

    NHI is completely being abused, health care providers keep upping their fees, it’s so sad.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  8. He is saying Carvin is a Failure.. says:

    NHI need someone with balls..maybe Carvin too much of a nice Guy…NHI biggest Issue is to go back to the table with health provider and renegotiate a decreasein cost…NDP introduce NHI to help a few Doctor friends and family get riched and bankrupt the Government…Seems like VIP dont have the balls the courage to fix it…

  9. Lord 0 says:

    Making Carvin look weak… Imagine Vincent come across as stronger and better than Carvin.. Something cant be going right in that camp…Carvin cant be that weak..I do admit NHI need fixing. NDP mess it up big time, just to please family and friends, make them rich..

  10. optimist says:

    NHI should not be tied to no other entity .Government needs to create a proper compliance department overseeing S.S.B and N.H.I department…..what a bad idea.

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