The National Health Fund (NHF) has paid out approxi-mately $1.95 billion for just over two million claims received from individual benefit cardholders during the period October 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009, representing a $43 million increase over the previous year.

Chief Executive Officer, Hugh Lawson, speaking at the NHF's Provider Awards Ceremony at the Terra Nova hotel on Monday, said the two million claims represent a 17 per cent increase over the previous year, with senior citizens registered under the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP) accounting for 761,000 of the submissions received, a five per cent increase over 2007/08.

significant achievement

He commended the partnership of the NHF with the pharmaceutical providers for the "significant achievement".

"The network of providers has, once again, overachieved. You have filled more prescriptions for JADEP and NHF cards (this year) than you did in previous years. Without the nearly 400 private providers, who have signed contracts with the NHF to accept the NHF card, the programme would not have been as successful as it is today," Lawson contended.

strive for excellence

He argued that, in light of the prevailing economic challenges, more Jamaicans will require assistance in meeting the "ever increasing cost" of their health care, noting that the NHF/JADEP programme will continue to strive for excellence in caring for persons with chronic conditions.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer, in a speech delivered by NHF Chairman, Dr. Lester Woolery, commended the Fund's achievement, and urged pharmacies to insist that cardholders present these when filling prescriptions.

"It is critical that the practice of promoting the use of the NHF card for prescriptions on the NHF drug list, which are also (on) the vital, essential and necessary (VEN) drug list, be reinstated. I'm, therefore, urging all the regional health authority pharmacies to get on board," the Health Minister said.