Health minister puts fast-food tax on the table - Gov't facilitates consultation on hospital user-fee policy

THE GOVERNMENT is considering several measures, among them the imposition of a levy on fast foods, to fund health care on the island.

Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson, who will today head to the Carter Hall, Holy Cross Church, in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, for the second in a series of consultations on user fees in public health facilities, said the proposal to impose a tax on fast foods is among several that are being considered.

Speaking at the Mandeville Hotel, in Manchester, for the Southern Regional Health Authority leg of the meetings last Friday, the minister said some of the other proposals being considered are the implementation of a national health insurance scheme; fees for selected secondary care; and the imposition of fees for all secondary care services.

The Ferguson-led health ministry is currently undertaking a review of the no-user-fee policy which was implemented by the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration in 2008.

But the Portia Simpson Miller-led Government has repeatedly said the programme is unsustainable and gave a commitment to review it.

feasibility

"What we are doing is a national consultation to get ideas and to look at the feasibility and, where necessary, to have a conversation, even with the entities that persons have (suggested) to say that they should be part of the process of health financing. We want to hear from the people," the minister has said.

Following today's meeting, Ferguson and his team will on Wednesday head to the Ocho Rios Baptist Church in St Ann, for the North East Regional Health Authority meeting; and on Sunday, June 23, to the Montego Bay Civic Centre, St James, for the Western Regional Health Authority.

"Even when we were in opposition we were of the view that there should be a review of the no-user-fee policy. Today, we have looked at it and said we can't narrow the discussion of user fees. We need to look broader, we need to be more innovative, we need to be more creative by coming to the people and listening to the people," Ferguson said.

Following Friday's consultation, Earl McLaughlin, chief executive officer of the Percy Junor Hospital in Spaldings, Manchester said he was pleased with the exercise.

"It was worthwhile, it had the end users, persons out there facing these things in health sector. The consultation process was a very useful engagement of public," he said.

Everton Anderson, chief executive officer of the National Health Fund and former CEO of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, applauded the health minister for initiatiating the consultation.

"Most countries now have recognised the need to move towards universal access to health care. While some recommendations are on the table, something definitely has to be tabled for Jamaica because each country has a different mix of services and different demand."

"I would go for tailoring a solution for Jamaica which does not involve out of pocket payment at the point of service. For example, you could pay for it through an insurance programme, through government, so when you go nobody is asking you for money," Anderson said.