fp Turks and Caicos

After being publicly criticized during the Consultative Forum’s monthly meeting July 13, the National Health Insurance Board issued a press release today, July 16, explaining how it handled a Belonger who was shot and was not enrolled in the National Health Insurance Plan.

Police responded shortly after midnight June 28 to a shooting in the Bight, where they recovered a number of spent shells at the scene. Police went to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where they found Haywood McIntosh Jr. and Fritz Delancy nursing gunshot wounds.

McIntosh was not enrolled in NHIP, but the NHIB agreed to pay for McIntosh to be flown to Jamaica for treatment at a hospital there.

“The recent situation with a patient being sent to Jamaica and left essentially on his own is not only disturbing, but it is alarming,” Consultative Forum Chairwoman Lillian Misick said. “Every person in this country ought to be outraged. Do you know why? Because it could very well be you! Various experiences cited by individuals show that like death, the NHIP is no respecter of persons in its dealings with our people.”

The NHIB issued the following statement about the case:

“The National Health Insurance Board provides the following information regarding a recent medical event involving a TCI Citizen.

“At 2:59 a.m. on 29 June 2010, NHIB received a confirmation of eligibility request from InterHealth Canada for a patient at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre requiring air ambulance transfer for injuries received earlier that evening. At 3:15 a.m. NHIB advised that the individual had not registered in the National Health Insurance Plan and was not eligible for benefits.

“Executives of InterHealth Canada, NHIB and the Ministry of Health explored all available options to provide the specialized care required for the patient and a viable solution was identified in Jamaica. Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was selected due to visa restrictions and the expertise that KPH has in handling similar injuries. It was made clear to the receiving hospital that the patient was not covered by any form of insurance and did not have the financial means to pay for treatment. The hospital agreed to explore accepting the patient on a charitable basis and NHIB agreed to pay for the air ambulance transportation of the patient to Kingston which includes ground transportation to the hospital on an ex gratia basis. This information was immediately communicated to the family of the patient by NHIB and InterHealth Canada.

“After treatment delays, the individual requested assistance from NHIB and the individual signed a Letter of Authorization allowing NHIB to assume responsibility for managing and coordinating care and treatment. As a result, financial support in the form of deposit guarantees, subsistence and return travel were extended by NHIB on an ex gratia basis. Arrangements were made for admission at a private hospital for July 15, 2010 and surgery was scheduled for the following, day July 16. The individual confirmed on the evening of July 14 that arrangements made by NHIB were acceptable.

“On July 15, NHIB was informed that the individual opted to make his own arrangements at a separate facility. While NHIB respects the right of an individual to make their personal medical decisions, the Board is no longer in a position to provide additional assistance once the patient chooses another medical provider.

“NHIB regrets that the individual did not register for the NHIP as has 30,105 eligible residents to date.

“NHIB encourages all persons that satisfy eligibility requirements, but have not yet registered for the NHIP to contact an enrollment officer to compete the registration process. NHIB understands the public interest in this event, but regards a patient’s privacy and the confidentiality of medical information as a primary responsibility.”