Doctors Fed Up Over NHI Delays and Not Being Recognized

2026-03-13 - 22:45

& Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Doctors involved with the National Health Insurance program said that they are fed up with delayed payments from government. Problems also included unnecessary fees and a failure to be properly recognized. Our Joshua Williams tells us more in this report. Physicians, apart of the Physicians Provider Association are up-in arms over the stalled registration of their association with government. In an open letter to Prime Minister, Philip Davis, they requested urgent recognition as the bargaining body for doctors who hold private contracts with the National Insurance plan. Incoming president, of the association Dr. Denotrah Archer-Cartwright, told reporters Friday that while the Medical Assosciation of The Bahamas’ is represented on the board, they too need a seat at the table. Dr. Denotrah Archer-Cartwright– Incoming President, NHIAPA “This body does not serve as a bargaining agent for physicians who maintain private contractual relationships with the national insurance program. The purpose of the physicians provider association is not to replace existing professional bodies but rather to ensure that contracted physician providers have a clear, organized voice through which fair and equitable agreements can be discussed.” But why’s this so important? The group of nearly fifty doctors, who serve thousands of Bahamians say, they’re being left out of key conversations on policies central to NHI. Dr. Cyprian Strachan also spoke to another pressing issue. Dr. Cyprian Strachan – Member, NHIAPA “Overtime pay National Health Insurance. The government has been delinquent on paying the doctors and so instead of getting paid the month before for the patient the government is now two months behind in payments so we got paid in. This is March so we should’ve been paid for on 15 February for March patients, we just getting paid for January.”) On top of that, doctors said they have to pay fees for the very program they were asked to be apart of. Dr. Ian Kelly – Member, NHIAPA “We pay health – hospital and health care facilities we pay them a fee for operating alright ? Now NHI wants to charge us $500 facility fee. They also want to charge us for using the electronic medical records which they introduced.”) Dr. Denotrah Archer-Cartwright– Incoming President, NHIAPA “There are several matters we would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you directly, including ongoing challenges surrounding payment delays, the introduction of policies without adequate consultation with providers, operational inconsistencies within the program, and the broader question of the long-term sustainability of the national health insurance framework. “