NHI MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERM

Medical Director at the National Health Insurance, Dr. Harlan Vanterpool has sounded the warning, that the NHI is not sustainable in the long term, unless they address high incidence of chronic disease.

During the launch of the Complete Health Improvement Programme, CHIP on Monday, Dr. Vanterpool said that Chronic Disease results in millions of dollars spent in their management and significant impacts on years of productive life loss, a critical health indicator of premature mortality.

In the BVI, the rest of the Caribbean and the Americas, chronic diseases account for over 65% of annual national health expenditures.

Dr Harlan Vanterpool, Medical Doctor

According to Dr Vanterpool, ensuring Healthy Ageing and reducing the incidence and impact of chronic disease among the Caribbean populous is of the utmost importance for all governments, families and social protection organisations such as Social Security and National Health Insurance programs.

The Medical Director also stated that the sustainability of such organisations is largely dependent on maintaining a healthy and productive workforce and having a healthy retired population with access to robust health and social care systems.