And when they do launch their NHI coverage in Cayo, Dr Figueroa says that because of the size of the district, it will take some time for them to go through the tender selection process. He says the contract awards will be score and merit based:
Dr Ramon Figueroa, General Manager, NHI
"The number of providers has been huge. I think it's been more than what we have for the rest of the country in terms of the applicants. So we divided the Cayo district into three zones. Cayo one, Cayo 2 and Cayo 3, because it is such a big district. And interestingly enough, we got a significant, in each one of the zones, we got a significant amount of providers. Remember, we tender for clinics, we tender for labs for pharmacy and imaging services. So we've had just last week, we finished the cycle of evaluating the proposals, the tender proposals. We thought that we would have already had at least selected some after we go through the whole tender selection process. We have to present it to our board. And so the final decision comes from the board in terms of who we have to work, who gets the highest score in terms of the proposals submitted. And then we start the negotiating process with them."
REPORTER-
"So by when would you expect full coverage in the Cayo district."
Dr Ramon Figueroa, General Manager, NHI
"Full coverage? We are thinking now that probably we will start in the Belmopan area because that's where we have a clearer picture of who submitted the best proposals.We will start in Belmopan probably before the end of this year. And then we still have the whole area of Benque, San Ignacio and Santa Elena. I personally think that by maybe the half of next year, six months, we should have the rest of the Cayo district covered."
