Bring back NHI and fix it, Walwyn urges

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has criticised the state of healthcare in the BVI and the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, arguing that the government has a perfect opportunity to fix the issues they have complained about for years.

Speaking in the House of Assembly recently about healthcare funding, Walwyn called for urgent reforms to the NHI, labelling it a crucial step towards improving healthcare in the Virgin Islands. He emphasised the need for immediate action to address financial shortfalls and ensure the sustainability of the NHI programme. Walwyn also highlighted challenges faced by the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), which currently struggles with a $20 million funding gap. According to the lawmaker, this shortfall severely impacts the quality of healthcare services available to residents and compromises the agency.

“I was listening to Tola Radio the other day, and I heard the Premier on Tola Radio talking about NHI and who should have done this and who should have done that,” Walwyn said. “The reality is, you’re in the seat now.” He pleaded with government lawmakers to examine the system for pitfalls to determine whether anyone was ‘bleeding the government’. He added that plugging loopholes and addressing system exploitation are necessary steps. “If there’s something wrong with the NHI legislation, for God in heaven’s sake, bring it to the House of Assembly and get it fixed,” Walwyn urged the government.