NHI Celebrates 25 Years of Service in Belize

The National Health Insurance (NHI) program marked 25 years of service with a celebration in Belize City on October 15th. The event highlighted its growth from a pilot initiative launched in 2001 to serve communities on Belize City’s southside into a national program serving hundreds of thousands of registered members.
NHI provides access to primary healthcare services and medication at significantly reduced costs. The program was introduced in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker in 2024. In San Pedro, NHI services are available at San Carlos Medical Center downtown and San Pedro Urgent Care north of town. Ambergris Hope Hospital has also recently begun providing diagnostic services under NHI.
In Caye Caulker, NHI services are available at Dr. D’s Clinic and Prescription Value Pharmacy. Residents seeking coverage must register at participating facilities using their Social Security cards. The program covers primary healthcare, essential medicines, diagnostic services, maternal and child healthcare, and chronic disease management.
The anniversary celebration took place during the 43rd Annual Medical Congress, where guests, including government officials and policymakers, highlighted NHI’s accomplishments. This year’s congress was held under the theme “From Detection to Decisive Action: Advancing Integrated Care to Reduce Mortality in Belize.”
Among the speakers was Deputy Prime Minister Honorable Cordel Hyde, who praised NHI for reducing families’ financial burden. “This NHI is a good thing,” he said. “Use it a lot. It is your money being spent; it is our lives that matter.”
NHI Chair Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez said the program currently has 257,678 registered members. He added that its next phase will focus on quality care, prevention, early detection, and the responsible use of limited financial and human resources.
“The future will bring new challenges,” Mendez said. “This includes the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, an aging population, and advances in medical technology.” He also addressed artificial intelligence in medicine and the need to keep healthcare financing sustainable.
NHI’s nationwide expansion continues in the Cayo District, where more than 30,000 people have registered, and more than 93,000 are expected to gain access to medical services. The anniversary event also emphasized that improvements must match broader access in the quality, continuity, and sustainability of medical care for all Belizeans.