Dr. Duane Sands always supported a health plan for all Bahamians

Tribune242 Editorial:



DURING THE Elizabeth by-election campaign over the past few weeks, the PLP has tried to make the voters of that constituency believe that Dr Duane Sands -- the FNM's candidate for the vacant seat -- is not interested in the poor because he was against National Health Insurance.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As a matter of fact we do not know of any doctor who publicly admitted to being against insurance for general health care. (The National Health Insurance Act 2006 was tabled in parliament by the Christie government on November 15, 2006).

However, there were many doctors, some of them quite vocal, who expressed the belief that the scheme as then proposed would not solve the Bahamas' healthcare problems. On the contrary it would never be able to deliver the standard of care promised by the PLP government's Blue Ribbon Commission.

In various statements, one before the Rotary Club of Nassau on March 16, 2006, Dr Sands made it clear that he believed every Bahamian was entitled to health care as of right.

"The goal of the Blue Ribbon Commission and the National Health Insurance plan are admirable and universally held," Dr Sands told Rotary. However, "they will not be achieved with this plan as currently outlined and will likely cause far more damage than ever anticipated."

Dr Robin Roberts, chairman of the National Coalition for Health Care Reform -- the brother of PLP chairman Bradley Roberts -- was of the same opinion.

In Dr Roberts' view the plan advanced by the PLP's Blue Ribbon Commission raised many unanswered questions. "We believe it to be our responsibility and the responsibility of all right-minded thinking Bahamians to raise those questions and to engage in true and meaningful consultation with Government in seeking answers," he said.

In expressing his concern, Dr Sands gave the analogy of a flight to London. "In the economy class," he said, "sit the majority of travellers. Space is limited but comfortable and the food is palatable. Up from there is business class, with larger seats, more space and sumptuous fare ... exceeded only by the plush and posh environment of first class. Same plane, same pilot no difference in destination or safety. One size does not fit all. Everyone cannot afford Atlantis or Ocean Club -- but they certainly should continue to exist."

It was because of his concern for those in economy class -- the poor of this country-- that he disagreed with the national health plan as then designed. He saw the plan as a "frightenly retrogressive step that will lead to less accountability, longer waiting times and reduced quality (of health care)." It was a plan that offered first class seats that could not be delivered to the poor.

"For the sake of all Bahamians," said Dr Robin Roberts, "let's take the time to get it right!"

But an election was around the corner. It was more important for the PLP to win that election rather than to get it right.

Tribune files are filled with public statements by Dr Sands, saying 'yes we need public health,' but let's get it right or the people's lot will be worse than what they now have.

And so how Dr Bernard Nottage -- who as Minister of Health on rejoining the PLP was given the task of taking the PLP's health plan to the people -- could say with a straight face that his "impression" was that Dr Sands did not support National Health Insurance, is beyond comprehension. No wonder the general public do not trust most politicians.

Dr Sands said it many times over that he supported national health insurance, but not the plan devised as an election-gimmick by the PLP government. He believed the Bahamian people -- especially the poor -- deserved better.

Now we invite Dr Nottage to recall one of the consultative meetings that Dr Marcus Bethel -- at the time the PLP government's Minister of Health -- held with a group of physicians at the School of Nursing. The meeting was to discuss government's national health insurance plan.

According to our records, Dr Nottage, who then headed his own party, the CDR -- he had not yet returned to the fold of his old party the PLP -- sat quietly throughout the discussion -- that is until towards the end. It was then that it is claimed he dropped his verbal "bomb." We understand that the gist of his angry remarks was that the Blue Ribbon Commission hadn't a clue what it was doing. It was basing its conclusions on faulty information, and as such the plan was not sustainable.

We certainly got the impression at the time that Dr Sands and Dr Nottage were singing from the same hymn sheet. But, one must remember that when Dr Nottage was singing his song, he headed his own political party in Opposition to the PLP. However, in the interim he rejoined his old government, became its Minister of Health and took the PLP's health scheme to the public. Today, he is in Elizabeth trying to get his party's candidate elected, and in the bargain misrepresenting the position of the opposition candidate -- Dr Duane Sands.

Really the PLP are just too much. This misrepresentation alone should make voters think twice before casting their ballots for the PLP candidate on Tuesday. Not that there's anything wrong with the candidate -- it's the party that's the problem.

February 12, 2010

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