Enforce NHI Payments, Turnbull Urges
Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has urged the government to strictly enforce mandatory National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions, saying thousands of businesses are delinquent and the scheme’s sustainability is at risk. Turnbull cited a recent surplus tied to enforcement, alarming claim volumes of about 85,000 per quarter, and called for a minimum $15 million injection to stabilise and modernise the fund.
Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has called on the Government to step up enforcement of mandatory National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions, warning that widespread non‑compliance is undermining the scheme and shifting an unfair burden onto compliant employers and public servants.
Speaking during the House of Assembly budget debate last month, Turnbull said the law already requires mandatory participation in NHI but enforcement has been inconsistent. "Over 3,000 businesses are delinquent — not paying their contributions," he told legislators, noting that employees of non‑compliant firms continue to receive treatment while the fund absorbs those costs.
Turnbull pointed to a recent development as evidence that enforcement works: for the first time in a decade the NHI recorded a surplus, which he attributed to stricter adherence to the existing law. He cautioned, however, that a one‑off surplus will not solve deeper structural problems unless enforcement is sustained and even across all sectors.
The representative also raised alarm about utilisation rates. He said NHI processes roughly 85,000 claims per quarter — a rate that equates to more than 13 visits per person per year — a level he described as unsustainable and likened to a "runaway train." Such high claim volumes, combined with unpaid employer contributions, risk depleting the fund and jeopardising future benefits for residents.
Beyond tougher enforcement, Turnbull urged the government to inject fresh capital into NHI. He recommended a minimum $15 million contribution to strengthen the fund and to modernise benefits that he described as outdated, rather than using available funds mainly to settle outstanding provider payments.
NHI compliance and arrears have been recurring issues in the BVI over the past decade. Turnbull warned that continued non‑compliance and high utilisation could eventually imperil the programme, and he pressed for decisive, even-handed action to protect both the health system and the public interest.
For residents, the debate signals continued scrutiny of NHI finances during parliamentary and Standing Finance deliberations. Turnbull’s intervention places pressure on the Government to clarify enforcement plans, outline any proposed funding injections, and provide transparent updates on measures to ensure the system remains viable for all contributors and beneficiaries.
Primary source: BVI News