Services and access to same

(1) Subject to this Part, the following health care services shall be provided by contracted NHI health care providers to NHI beneficiaries as appropriate– (a) primary health care services including general medical or clinical practice services from public health centres or polyclinics or from private premises in Belize, as identified by the Ministry of Health and as recognised by the Board for the provision of such services; (b) hospital outpatient and inpatient services at public or private health care facilities including the services of health care professionals, diagnosis, treatment and emergency services; (c) diagnostic, laboratory and other medical examination services at public or private health facilities; (d) prescription drugs and biologicals; or (e) any other health care services which may be approved by the Board for the NHI Scheme. (2) Access to other NHI health care services shall be by way of referral to those services by registered NHI health care providers who offer general medical or clinical practice services and who are contracted to provide such services, Provided that in emergency cases, such services may be provided by any other registered NHI health care provider as the case may be. (3) The Board may with the approval of the Minister and in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Health and by statutory instrument, from time to time exclude from the NHI Scheme any non-prescription or prescription drugs, devices, and NHI health care services which may be cost ineffective. Such exclusion shall also be published in two national newspapers.