Gubernatorial candidates offer remedies for CNMI health care woes

Bring health services into the villages, reduce costly off-island referrals, pursue public-private partnerships, and invest more in prevention.

Those were among the prescriptions offered by the three gubernatorial bets when they were asked how their administrations would improve access to affordable, quality health care—and how they would pay for it.

CNMI Republican Party gubernatorial bet Ralph DLG Torres and independent gubernatorial bets Lawrence F. Camacho and Blas Jonathan “BJ” T. Attao addressed health care during the sixth question of the Marianas Press 2026 gubernatorial debate last Aug. 18 at Pacific Islands Club Saipan’s Charley’s Cabaret.

The health care question opened the second half of the debate following a 10-minute break.

Moderator Thomas Manglona II noted that the CNMI continues to face high medical costs, limited specialist services, and a shortage of health care workers.

Manglona then asked: “If elected, what specific steps will you take to improve health care? And how will you fund it?”

The health care question was the sixth of 11 posed during the debate and came following a 10-minute break.

Torres, a former governor, said the CNMI must work to improve Medicaid funding while exploring partnerships between the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and private health care providers.

“I believe this is the time to bring in private partnership with the hospital,” Torres said.

Torres said private partners could help provide medical equipment or services that are currently unavailable or limited in the CNMI.

He also cited $1 million he said his administration allocated for substance-abuse services, arguing that people participating in such programs need specialized care that does not necessarily have to be provided at the hospital.

Camacho, a former Education commissioner, placed reforming the medical referral program among his top health care priorities.

“We need to limit the amount of referral out of the island or the islands because it is just costing us too much,” Camacho said.

Camacho said his administration would work with CHCC and its board to determine which services could be provided locally and reduce the need to send patients off island.

He agreed with Torres on exploring public-private partnerships and said the government should examine additional funding sources that could be leveraged for health care without jeopardizing funds intended for future generations.

Camacho also said the government must review CHCC’s business model and determine how it could help the corporation become financially sustainable.

“We've just also got to work with the hospital and figure out what's going on when it comes to their business model and see where the government can also help leverage up its power to give to the CHCC so that they can thrive,” Camacho said.

Attao, a longtime House representative, focused on preventive care and bringing medical services directly into the community.

“Get well and stay well,” Attao said.

Attao said his administration, together with running mate and House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, would work with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to expand mobile clinics on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

“Under our administration, we will work with agencies and nonprofit organizations to bring more mobile clinics into the community, bring the wellness into the community, educate the community on eating habits, health habits, and exercise, and all of the above,” Attao said.

Attao said mobile clinics could provide screenings closer to residents’ homes, while public health education could encourage healthier eating, exercise, and other preventive measures.

He credited CHCC with bringing cancer, heart, ear, nose, and throat specialists to the Commonwealth. He also cited a 2016 CNMI health study in arguing that many residents delay routine medical care until they require emergency treatment.

Attao said earlier screenings could help detect illnesses before they become more serious and reduce spending on off-island referrals.

“If we invest into educating our people through public health and getting the mobile clinics into the villages, we will save money, and we won't have to expend too much on referrals,” Attao said.

The gubernatorial bets then got a minute each for rebuttal.

Camacho used his rebuttal to suggest examining taxes on unhealthy products, with the revenue dedicated to CHCC.

He cited Philadelphia’s tax on sugary drinks as an example but said residents would have to be informed and consulted before the CNMI adopted a similar policy.

“Those things are ideas that we could tap into, but the people need to be informed, and the people need to make sure that they're bought into this type of concept before we get into that type of stuff,” Camacho said.

Camacho said such a tax could discourage the consumption of unhealthy products while generating money for other health services.

Attao used his rebuttal to point to existing preventive-health initiatives, including Public Law 24-02, which requires warning labels on betel nut products sold, distributed, or imported in the CNMI.

“We've done our work on that part at zero cost to the central government,” Attao said.

Attao also called for support of Youth Congress Bill 20-02, which seeks to restrict school-age children’s access to vaping products. He said 800 vaping devices were confiscated in the Public School System during the past school year.

“We want to get those vapes off the kids' hands. It's dangerous,” Attao said.

Torres closed the rebuttal round by arguing that the CNMI must address health care through prevention, treatment, and substance-abuse services.

“Health is a holistic approach,” Torres said.

Torres cited his administration’s establishment of a police K-9 unit and support for substance-abuse programs as measures intended to reduce drug-related harm.

He also said his administration helped finance additional hospital beds to expand CHCC’s capacity.