Employers Federation gives Sir Molwyn a deadline for appointing a board of directors for the MBS

REAL NEWS: Sir Molwyn Joseph, the minister of health, has been given a deadline to appoint a board of directors for the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) or face further action from the Employers Federation.

In a letter to Joseph dated November 6, 2023, the Federation articulates the concern being voiced by workers, employers, and patients alike: That the Scheme is operating without a “functioning board” and, therefore, outside the ambit of the law.

Further, the Federation reminds Joseph that this breach had been brought to his attention since September 19.

Not having received a response up to one month later, the body reportedly passed a resolution at its Annual General Meeting, on October 19, to write again and reiterate its concern about the “unacceptable situation.”

According to the correspondence, in keeping with its fiduciary responsibility, the Employers Federation had submitted the name of its own nominee to the board since June 2023. Yet, to date, no meeting has been convened, the letter says.

“We maintain that the MBS Board is necessary for the oversight of the Scheme,” the Federation tells Sir Molwyn. Accordingly, it has given him 14 working days “to immediately restore a sense of normalcy to the operations of the scheme.”

The letter stops short of advising the minister what course of action the organization will take, however.

But it is copied to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the attorney- general, the trade unions, and the media.

The Federation has a vested interest in the running of the government corporation: Its members are mandated not only to submit salary deductions to the Scheme on employees’ behalf, but to match those contributions although at a higher percentage.

Meanwhile, REAL News reported, months ago, that insiders are alleging that Sir Molwyn and the former chairman of the board – whose tenure ended with the January 18 General Election – are, in effect, making decisions on both the MBS’ financial operations and
applications for medical assistance – which are functions of the board of directors.

At present, cancer patients are complaining that their requests to the MBS for certain prescribed medications are being delayed “at the board level” while they languish.

“They’re just stalling us,” one tells our Newsroom, “because they know – and we know – there is no board. So our health and our lives are up in the air while they play God.”

Meanwhile, another patient, who has been directed to Colombia for treatment, says she believes that a functioning MBS board would have been able to keep the Cancer Centre open for patients’ benefit.

She says she is “dreading” having to travel all the way to South America, where she knows no one and does not understand the language, for treatment that used to be available right here.

The Cancer Centre was closed mid-year after the majority shareholder decided he could no longer continue running an unprofitable operation.

However, one full year before it was shut down, Sir Molwyn and Prime Minister Gaston Browne had been apprised of the operator’s intentions.

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