The Editor, Sir:

The National Health Fund (NHF) has assisted patients with 14 designated chronic diseases through the subsidy of specific medications.

It is understood that these conditions carry the greatest burden on the health sector. Children with rheumatic heart disease, diabetes, asthma and arthritis have been beneficiaries of this fund.

There are life-saving medications provided by the fund, which overlap with other chronic childhood illnesses. Children who are born with cardiac diseases cannot access the heart failure medications. Children who develop cancer cannot access specific chemotherapeutic agents provided for adults with breast and prostate cancer. Then the small numbers with liver failure are unable to access liver transplants whose survival rests on specific medications listed on the drug formulary of the NHF.

The parents have a heavy burden to carry with the purchase of lifelong medications in order to improve the life expectancy of their children. The current 14 designated chronic diseases are providing for the wider population. Within the childhood population there needs to be greater access to the already existing medications. This needs to be addressed with utmost urgency.

I am, etc.,

Dr. TRACY EVANS-GILBERT

tracye@cwjamaica.com

Cornwall Regional Hospital

Mount Salem, Montego Bay

Via Go-Jamaica