The Prime Minister today, 12 March, 2012 signed an Order expanding the list of chronic diseases covered under the National Insurance Chronic Diseases Prescription Drug Programme.
The new Order amends conditions under two existing categories of illnesses previously listed and adds four new conditions to the overall listing. The new Order replaces “Ischaemic Heart Disease” with “Ischaemic Disease” and replaces “Major Depression” with “Psychiatric Disease”.
New conditions now also included in the Programme are:
- Benign Prostate Hypertrophy
- Epilepsy
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Thyroid Disease
The Prescription Drug Plan was enacted by Parliament in 2009 and entered into effect on 20 September, 2010. At that time the diseases covered by the Plan included Arthritis, Asthma, Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Glaucoma, High Cholesterol, Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Major Depression, Prostate Cancer and Psychosis.
Individuals covered under the plan included NIB Pensioners, NIB Invalids and Bahamians over 65 years of age who were ineligible for an NIB pension, children under 18 years of age or under 25 years (if full time student) who have been diagnosed with one or more of the chronic conditions covered under the Plan.
In May, 2011 the second phase of the Plan expanded coverage to the following groups of persons:
- Indigent persons
- Staff of Her Majesty’s Prison and the Industrial Schools
- Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force
- Members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force
- Officers employed in the Public Service
- Persons receiving medical care associated with pregnancy
- Persons receiving 100% NIB disablement benefits
- Persons receiving NIB Retirement Grant
- Persons age 60 and over in receipt of NIB Survivors who have been diagnosed with one or more of the chronic conditions covered under the Plan.
Some 18,000 individuals presently receive benefits under the Plan.
