John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Now that we're reaching to the point where we're covering the entire country, it's important now to start to separate those functions. When we started, we had social security under our previous PUP government, it was hoped that maybe we could work out something with social security to help with the funding. Obviously that never worked out from early so all along social security was managing, but it was costing us, we had to pay for the service that was being provided to manage that so we have set up a unit or group that will not be able to manage the NHI program. And so I think we are about the legislation to have the National Health Insurance Authority so that then they're going to be able to manage the entire NHI program. Now that we're doing that, obviously there can be some sort of, almost like duplication of services because now this is primary healthcare and our health system, the Ministry of Health provides that primary healthcare."

"Most of that services now is going to be provided by NHI so obviously there has to be some changes in functions. The beauty of NHI is that is creates competition among the private sector and even the public sector."

"I am going to have a meeting, I've organized a meeting with the Ministry of Health and the NHI group to be able to iron out any differences before it goes to the National Assembly. It does not necessarily mean under the office of the Prime Minister but it's more, it belongs really in the Ministry of Finance, so whosoever the Minister of Finance will be responsible, it's just so happens now that the prime minister is in charge of finance but it really belongs in the Ministry of Finance."