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 Earlier today, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton gave an update  while speaking in Gordon House on benefits to NHF cardholders and additional benefits to the beneficiaries of JADEP.

Below is his full statement : 

I rise to update this Honourable House on three important changes to national programmes administered by the National Health Fund (NHF), an agency of the Ministry of Health & Wellness.

The changes are:

• subsidy increases;
• the addition of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test to the NHFCardProgramme; and
• an increase to the JADEP Drug List.Madam Speaker, these changes will help to support access to health care for the 350,000 active beneficiaries of the NHFCard; and the more than 21,000 beneficiaries of JADEP. At the same time, Jamaican men 40 and older and who are enrolled with the NHFCard will now have ready access to screening for what is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in our male population.

As a reminder to this Honourable House, the National Health Fund Individual Benefits Programme provides subsidies for three main categories of benefits for Jamaican residents enrolled. These are subsidies for medication for the treatment of 17 chronic diseases; medical supplies and devices for diabetes and asthma and for two diagnostics tests. These subsidies are accessed using the NHFCard and through the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP).

INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT

For the 2021-22 fiscal year, the total enrollment on the Individual Benefits Programme grew by four per cent, ending the year with 720,272 enrollees on the NHFCard Programme and with approximately 350,000 active beneficiaries.

Over 4.3 million claims were approved totaling $6.41 billion in subsidy payments. Five conditions accounted for 78 per cent of the total NHFCard subsidy payment with diabetes representing 30 per cent of the total subsidy, followed by hypertension – 24 per cent, high cholesterol, 11.3 per cent, Prostate cancer – seven per cent and Glaucoma – six per cent.

The NHFCard Programme recorded an average subsidy rate of 43 per cent. Prostate cancer accounted for the highest average subsidy per claim of $24,282.89, followed by Lupus – $17,301.02 and breast cancer -$12,263.56.

NEW BENEFITS

In keeping with the NHF’s strategic priority to improve access and enhance customer satisfaction, the Fund conducts periodic reviews of the benefits under the programme and in addition receives feedback from beneficiaries and stakeholders in relation to their concerns about the programme.

From the Board of Management meeting held on November 23, 2022, the directors approved the following changes to the individual benefits programme.

NHFCARD

The NHFCard will now see an addition of 41 new Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for the treatment of eight conditions namely hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, vascular disease, diabetes, psychosis, glaucoma, sickle cell disease and epilepsy. This means that some 350,000 active beneficiaries will access benefits at an investment of $474.68 million per annum.

JADEP

The Board has also approved changes to JADEP, with five pharmaceutical items added for the treatment of five conditions- arthritis, asthma, glaucoma, hypertension and vascular disease based on specific criteria.

This will see approximately 21,100 active beneficiaries receive benefits at an estimated investment of $42.59 million per annum. Jamaican residents 60 years and older can qualify for benefits through JADEP.

PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) TEST

Prostate cancer is a serious men’s health issue being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Jamaican men and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in our male population. Screening is about early detection and early detection saves lives. Screening for prostate cancer using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal examination (DRE) can identify abnormalities and may find cancer early so that affected men can begin treatment before it spreads. Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) data for 2020 estimates that Jamaica sees just over 1,500 new prostate cancer cases annually.

I am pleased to announce that Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test will now be covered under the Individual Benefits Programme. Males over 40 years who are enrolled on the NHFCard Programme can now access PSA tests. The subsidy on the PSA tests is set at $1,600.00 per test with a maximum allowance of one test per year.

We have some 89,665 active male claimants, 40 years and older, who can benefit from this new addition. I say to these men and others in the society, that with regular screening coupled with the expert cancer care that is available in Jamaica, we can better control the severity of this disease in our nation.

To access these expanded benefits and others, members of the public can call the NHF at 1-888-DIAL-NHF (342-5643), visit its website at www.nhf.org.jm or visiting any of the 106 DrugServ locations for full time and scheduled services at private and public health facilities islandwide.

In closing, I thank the Board of Directors, Management and staff of the National Health Fund, who continue their exemplary work by staying true to the Fund’s mission of “providing funding for specified healthcare benefits, health promotion, health projects and pharmacy services in a sustainable, efficient and customer centric environment”.