According to the front page stories of both morning dailies yesterday, a delay with NHI is likely according to Dr. Perry Gomez. Here… and here…
Take a step back to the so called VAT negotiations and the same pattern emerges.
A government hell bent on implementing a policy that many people know is flawed and is a detriment to the taxpayer in the long run only slows the process when they meet resistance.
The next stage will be a flurry of closed door meetings with the so called stakeholders and they will cave to the governments coercive power.
The positions taken by the government to date, that all amount to accusations of people being greedy or do not care about the poor, will not change, in fact I'd bet dollars to donuts they will be amplified should the "stakeholders" continue to hold out with their legitimate positions.
One policy position that I have not seen advanced to date is the possibility of a voucher system so that uninsured poor people can buy health insurance.
Another idea that can be advanced is how to provide catastrophic care for the poor and uninsured.
Of course, these possible policy prescriptions require government to take proper stock of the services they provide and does not give the ability to railroad another tax hike without accountability.
I hope I'm wrong, but if history is our guide we can expect the government to shove NHI down our proverbial throats because they think they can score political points.
A sad commentary.
