THE EDITOR, Sir:WHEN THE National Health Fund (NHF) was set up, it was estimated that there would be about 700,000 persons to be registered for chronic diseases, and it would take approximately two years to complete this registration.
The NHF assists with 14 specific chronic ailments, and after one and a half years of registration at over 70 locations islandwide, only 52,000 persons have registered for assistance.
I am aware of the projections and registrations because the registration takes place through the Electoral Office of Jamaica. I have been keeping up with the commendable work done by the Ministry of Health regarding information to the public about HIV/AIDS and also the work of your organisation with your weekly articles in The Gleaner and the Star.
Since so few persons have actually signed up for assistance from the NHF, I would expect that there is a significant over-funding of the NHF and therefore I would like to suggest that HIV medication be added to the list of prescription drugs supported by the NHF.
Health Minister John Junor, as reported in the December 6, 2004 edition of The Daily Gleaner, says that HIV/AIDS is not just a health issue, but also a developmental issue.
I know the anti-retroviral used to treat HIV is said to be expensive, but could we have the yearly cost to treat those who are known to be infected and how much of that the NHF could offset?
I am, etc.,
DANVILLE WALKER
CEO Office of
National Reconstruction
