THE EDITOR, Sir:

I REFER to the ongoing debates surrounding the award of the contract for the Government Employees Administrative Services Only Health Scheme. Blue Cross of Jamaica (BCJL), prior to this time, decided to refrain from public comments on the matter. However, as a result of a number of recent misinformed statements appearing in The Gleaner, and in particular, The Gleaner editorial of December 19, it is clear that we need to respond to some of the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding the matter, as far as Blue Cross of Jamaica is concerned.

First of all, like everyone else, Blue Cross of Jamaica has always supported an appropriate and timely tender process, and, having been engaged in it and won clearly and fairly, like some others, we are justifiably disappointed that a retendering of the contract has been decided. This is despite our compliance with the request for proposal (RFP) requirements and subsequently, being awarded the highest scores in the evaluation criteria, with the lowest price for the service in two of the three cost proposals specified by the RFP. Significantly, the one option that Blue Cross of Jamaica was not the lowest in, was the one which the unions had rejected as not even being worthy of consideration in the first place.

You should note that the RFP is what guides the tender process and decision. We dare anyone to challenge any of this!

It should be noted that in the evaluation process, Blue Cross of Jamaica was accredited with 104 points to LoJ' s 96 points, with LoJ not outscoring BCJL in any of the 11 evaluation criteria. If this RFP was not the basis of the evaluation, then why was it the basis of the tender document?

Everyone who wants to be fair and honest about the process will agree that the evaluation process was flawed. This seems to be the view of the previous and current governments. Our view though, is that only the evaluation process needs to be redone - not the entire process.

The real owners of the scheme

Nevertheless, since the Government in its wisdom has decided to retender, we have accepted the decision with reservation. This is because at the end of the day, it is the Government and the GEASO/unions which will decide what decision is in their best interest to serve their clients.

We have been informed that the unions have been advised tha the Government pays 80 per cent of the cost of the scheme this, as a negotiated benefit, is a part of their compensation, thereby making the employees the real owners of the scheme. The Government, therefore, acts only as the administrator of the scheme.

Blue Cross has the support and credibility of the majority of the Jamaican people because as a Jamaican company, it does not send profits overseas, but instead, has put back its surplus into the country over the years, to support many national needy projects and programmes.

Blue Cross of Jamaica has always prided itself on the provision of top-quality health-care services to the people of Jamaica, at the most affordable rates, and will continue to do so indefinitely. Blue Cross is regarded as the 'People's Health Insurance Company'.

Pledge to continued service

Contrary to perceptions, Blue Cross of Jamaica does not get $2 billion up front to spend on the scheme. The payments are retroactive and we run this scheme at best on a break-even basis, for the benefits of our loyal clients, who are fully aware of this.

We wish to assure the people of Jamaica and our GEASO customers in particular, that as long as they wish to have us as their health-care providers, we will continue to fulfil our responsibilities as the administrator of the scheme, to ensure the provision of top-quality and affordable health-care coverage to all GEASO subscribers.

We also pledge to continue our usual care and high-quality service to all our customers in Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

Dr. HENRY LOWE

Chairman, Blue Cross of Jamaica Ltd.

85 Hope Road, Kingston 6.