NHI Committee

(1) There shall be established a committee to be known as the National Health Insurance Committee hereinafter referred to as the “NHI Committee”. (2) The members of the NHI Committee shall be appointed by the Minister and shall be as follows– (a) the Chief Executive Officer of the Board; (b) the Chairperson of the NHI Scheme; (c) the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health; (d) one representative from the private health care sector to be selected by the Belize Medical and Dental Association after consultation with relevant private health organisations; (e) two representatives from the employers’ association, one representative from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and one representative from the Belize Business Bureau; (f) two representatives from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize; (g) one representative to be nominated by the Belize Council of Churches; (h) one representative to be nominated by the Organisation of Insurance Companies of 67 (i) one representative to be nominated by the Leader of Opposition; or (j) one representative to be nominated by the Minister of Finance. (3) The functions of the NHI Committee shall be to decide on– (a) matters relating to the health care needs of the population; (b) problems encountered by private and public providers of services and by customers; (c) health care policies of the Government; (d) formulation of regulations under this Part; (e) standards and quality pertaining to the functions of the Board in ensuring the availability and effective utilisation of health care services by NHI beneficiaries; or (f) any other similar matters relating to the NHI (4) The NHI Committee shall meet at regular intervals which shall be no less than four times a year to formulate policy (5) The Minister shall appoint a Chairperson of the NHI Committee from amongst the membership thereof and the NHI Committee shall appoint a Deputy Chairperson from amongst the membership thereof who will be entitled to act as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. (6) The period of appointment of the members shall be five years for the Chairperson and three years for the members. 68 (7) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member of the NHI Committee for misbehaviour or for physical or mental incapacity. (8) A member shall be deemed to have vacated his office– (a) if his appointment is terminated by the Minister under this Act; CAP. 244. (b) if he becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors or makes any assignment of his remuneration for their benefit or takes advantage of any provision of the Bankruptcy Act; (c) if he becomes of unsound mind; (d) if he resigns his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Minister and the resignation is accepted by the Minister; (e) if he absents himself, except with leave granted by the from three consecutive meetings of the Committee; or (f) if the organisation which had nominated him requests termination of his appointment in writing addressed to the Minister. (9) Any decision of the NHI Committee shall be taken by a majority of the members present and, in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or the person acting as the Chairperson shall have a casting vote. (10) At any meeting of the NHI Committee, seven of the members thereof, including the Chairperson, of whom at least two shall be governmental members shall constitute the quorum. 69 (11) The members of the NHI Committee shall be entitled to the same protection under the Public Authorities Protection Act as if they were included in the definition of “public authority” given in section 2 of that Act. CAP. 31. (12) The Chairperson of the NHI Committee shall act as the Executive Chairperson and shall be paid such remuneration for his services that the Board may, with the prior approval of the Minister, consider appropriate.