GG WELCOMES START-UP OF NATIONAL HEALTH FUND

Governor General, His Excellency Sir Howard Cooke has welcomed the start-up of the National Health Fund (NHF) and commended everyone who have toiled hard and long to bring the project to fruition.

The Governor General?s comments came at a courtesy call on Lady Cooke and himself, on August 5,2003 by a team from the National Health Fund and Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS).

Sir Howard said that he has had a keen interest in a National Health Insurance Plan from as way back as 1972, when he as Minister of Government with responsibility for Pension and Social Security, first became aware of the concept and what it would mean for the Jamaican population.

?I believe it is important for persons to be healthy to be able to effectively conduct their daily duties ?, the Governor General said.

Mr. Barrett gave detailed information on the NHF, while Mr. Douglas Halsall, CEO, Advanced Integrated Systems explained how the transaction processing system and the adjudication of claims will work. All claims to the NHF will be adjudicated by AIS.

For further information contact: Rosemarie Lee, tel. 906-1106