National health card registration begins Monday

AS THE Government prepares to roll out the long-awaited national health card, there is word that the registration process begins on Monday.

The card, which is available to all Jamaicans, will be the primary means by which citizens can access health services, including pharmaceuticals, in the public sector. Persons will be able to use the card to access drugs at public pharmacies and Drug Serv pharmacies as of March 3.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James yesterday, Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson said registration forms have been provided to all regional health authorities for distribution to their respective facilities.

Registration will also be facilitated at the Ministry of Health's head office and the National Health Fund (NHF).

THREE WEEKS TO PROCESS

Ferguson said it would take three weeks after submitting a completed registration form for persons to receive their GOJ Health Card.

The NHF will be in charge of processing applications, printing, and mailing the cards.

"Persons, who already have an NHF card, will not be required to apply for the GOJ Health Card, as they can simply use their NHF card in lieu of the GOJ card," Ferguson advised.

The GOJ Health Card is being implemented at a cost of $85 million, with an annual maintenance cost of approximately $22 million.

The health minister said every citizen of Jamaica is expected to be registered and issued with a card over time.

A full public-education programme on the benefits of the card and the registration process will get under way immediately in the print and electronic media.

The card will give patients at public health facilities ease of access to medications on the vital, essential and necessary drug list at no cost.

It will also improve the mechanism to bill private health-insurance providers, as it will state whether an individual has health insurance.