EIGHT PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS CONTRACTS SIGNED BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH

December 28, 2007

Eight Primary Care Providers contracts were signed this morning between the Ministry of Health and the Regional Managers of eight public sector health care facilities.  Regional Managers for Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Belmopan, San Ignacio and Georgeville signed for their respective facilities. N-H-I Chairman Doctor Greg Garcia said the N-H-I roll-out is long overdue, but now they are ready, in spite of detractors who want to say that the N-H-I is not possible. Garcia went on to say that after the eleven million dollars that Social Security invested in the N-H-I is spent, Social Security funding of N-H-I will cease. He informed that of the eleven million dollars that Social Security spent on N-H-I, there is money remaining to fund the programme up to May of 2008.  Minister of Health Jose Coye said that today is another historic day in the journey for the pursuit of health. Coye stated that “it cannot be whether we can afford it or not, we must afford it”. The health minister went on to elaborate that they must strengthen the existing institutions and approach health care from an operative standpoint; in other words, all must adopt a culture of prevention.  With N-H-I reaching 50 percent of the rural population, Minister Coye said that N-H-I is affordable and can be met from the consolidated funds of this country and from the enhanced petroleum revenues.  On January 2nd and 3rd, 2008 the technical proposals of the private sector will be completed and on January 9th 2008 all the private sectors contracts will be signed.  N-H-I began with a pilot project in the south-side of Belize City some two years ago. Today, about 70 percent of south-side residents have seen an improvement in their primary health care.  Also taking part in this morning’s ceremony was the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health, Margaret Ventura and Director of Health Services Doctor Jorge Polanco,

|

|