– Advertisement –
BELMOPAN, Belize, Jun 9, CMC – The National Health Insurance (NHI) has sought to distance itself from the murder of Dr. Naun Bonilla and the subsequent arrest of two suspects, saying any attempt to do so “is inaccurate, unfounded, and misleading”.
In a statement, the NHI said it is aware media houses and social media blogs “have sought, whether deliberately or through ignorance” to connect it to the killing and that it “respectfully urges members of the public, media houses, and all stakeholders to rely on verified facts and accurate information when reporting on matters involving the organization and its operations”.
Dr. Bonilla, 37, was fatally shot in a targeted, daylight execution in Belmopan on May 29. The internal medicine specialist was ambushed and gunned down while driving his young daughter to school, though the child remained unharmed.
Last week, the Ministry of Health & Wellness “strongly “condemned what it described as “the senseless killing of Dr. Naun Bonilla, a dedicated medical professional and true patriot whose lifelong service touched the lives of countless Belizeans”.
It said that Dr. Bonilla faithfully served the people of Belize for many years through the Western Regional Hospital, where he became known for his compassion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to patient care.
“Throughout his career, he helped save and improve countless lives, leaving behind a legacy of service that will never be forgotten. His passing is a tremendous loss not only to the medical community, but to the nation as a whole. Belize has lost a man who dedicated his life to the wellbeing of others and to the service of country,” the ministry said.
Last week, 26-year-old Hannah Rebekah Foreman and 37-year-old Edwin Albert Bethran Jr. Appeared in court and were arraigned for the murder.
In its statement, the NHI said that as part of its strategic objective to expand healthcare coverage throughout Belize, the Cayo District represents the final District to be incorporated into the NHI programme.
“In furtherance of this objective, NHI publicly opened its tender process in February 2025, inviting interested service providers to submit expressions of interest to the Social Security Board and that among the interested applicants was Belmopan Medical Laboratory Services, which duly submitted an Expression of Interest.
It said that on February 19, 2026, contracts were signed with the successful Primary Care Providers and that a three-month period is given for the clinics to start to register members and contract necessary staff so that they could start providing services by the end of June 2026.
“During this period, price and product negotiations with the support services (imaging, laboratories, and pharmacies) took place, and it is during this phase that it was brought to our attention that there was an ongoing business dispute between the two co-owners of Belmopan Medical Laboratory Services. Both co-owners were informed that the contract with the entity would not be signed due to the ongoing legal dispute.
“It is important to note that while drafted agreements are shared with support services providers, their contracts are not finalized or signed until the relevant clinics commence services under the NHI programme.”
The NHI said it “categorically clarifies that the information being disseminated that there is a lucrative signed contract is totally false.
“There is no contract that has been signed or executed between the National Health Insurance and Belmopan Medical Laboratory Services,” it said, adding that it “respectfully urges members of the public, media houses, and all stakeholders to rely on verified facts and accurate information when reporting on matters involving the organization and its operations”.
– Advertisement –
