Four years after the National Health Fund (NHF) processed its first claim for payment for the NHFCARD on August 14, 2003, the NHF, up to Tuesday, had paid out over $1.295 billion to participating pharmacies to cover subsidy payments for 1.9 million prescriptions. This amount represents a 58 per cent savings in the cost of the prescriptions to beneficiaries, who paid $2.242 billion from their own resources.

The NHF, in a release, said the number of claims per month has been increasing steadily in the four years from 80 claims in August 2003 to 176,244 for the month of July 2007. The increase in claims reflects the consistent growth in enrolment for NHF benefits which together with the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP) reached over 310,000 beneficiaries at the end of July 2007.

This first claim was paid to Waltham Park Pharmacy, one of the six pharmacies that had signed contracts at the outset to accept the NHFCARD. Maureen Hemmings, chief pharmacist at Waltham Park Pharmacy said, "NHF subsidies have cut the cost of prescriptions; in many instances there are drastic reductions in cost and this has assisted my clients to afford their prescriptions and helped them comply with taking their medication which is critical in the effective management of chronic illnesses."

Increase in understanding

One important development arising from the establishment of the NHF, she noted, had been the increase in understanding among her clients of what a chronic illness was and how medications work to control them.

From the six pharmacies which signed contracts at the outset, the number of participating pharmacies has grown to over 378 provider locations, making it easy for NHFCARD beneficiaries to fill their prescriptions and receive the stated NHF subsidies from anywhere in the island.

Rae Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of the NHF, says, "The NHF is meeting its mission of reducing the burden of health care on the Jamaican people and has had a significant impact on the management of chronic diseases, which are the leading causes of illness and death in the island."

The NHFCARD provides subsidies for 1,000 prescription items covering 15 chronic diseases for any resident of Jamaica living with these diseases. JADEP provides 80 prescription items free of charge for seniors, 60 years and over, who pay $40 to the participating pharmacy to dispense each month's supply of the prescribed drug.