Aims and Objectives

The National Health Fund is established to provide financial support to the national healthcare system to improve its effectiveness and the health of the Jamaican population through two categories of benefits.

NHF INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS

This benefit provides assistance to persons, initially, to purchase specific prescription drugs used in the treatment and management of designated chronic illnesses. The National Health Fund started operations on April 28th 2003 with the registration of persons applying for NHF Individual Benefits. The NHF also conducts an intensive public information programme to educate the public about chronic illness prevention and management.

NHF INSTITUTIONAL BENEFITS

This benefit provides assistance to private and public sector organisations for projects. The Health Promotion & Protection Fund provides financial assistance for projects that support primary health care with an emphasis on health promotion and illness prevention. The Health Support Fund provides financial assistance for projects in the public sector to help improve infrastructure and service delivery facilities.

HOW THE NHF WORKS

Persons seeking assistance from NHF Individual Benefits must be certified, by a registered private or public doctor, with one or more of the specified medical conditions and register with the NHF. Once approved, the beneficiary is issued with a NHF card and will be able to get assistance with the purchase of drugs from approved participating pharmacies. The NHF makes a fixed payment towards the price set by the pharmacy for drugs approved by the NHF. The beneficiary is required to pay the difference - the co-payment. The NHF also takes an active role in educating the population and its beneficiaries on the importance of properly managing and treating their chronic condition. Various strategies are used to achieve this including informational advertising and literature, seminars and promotions through public events e.g. health fairs.

Organisations seeking assistance from NHF Institutional Benefits must submit a project request to the NHF outlining the project objectives, cost, duration and expected outcomes. Health Promotion & Protection projects will be evaluated by the NHF in accordance with the principal objectives of health promotion and illness prevention within national healthcare priorities and goals as set out by the Government. Health Support projects will be evaluated in accordance with the national healthcare priorities and goals using the PAHO eleven Essential Public Health Functions as a guideline.

FINANCING THE NHF

The revenue sources are:

20% of  Special Consumption Tax charged on Tobacco Products with effect from April 14, 2008.
5% of Special Consumption Tax collected.
1/2% of annual earnings up to $500K paid by employee and employer, collected by the NIS.