I am concerned about Jamaica's health-reform strategies being implemented and already existing policies, which seem disjointed. Jamaica has a number of health-financing options in place. However, there is a duplication of efforts, which only squanders already limited resources.

The Government's new health card offers drugs from the Vital Essential and Necessary Drug (VEN) list, some which are already being financed by the National Health Fund's individual benefits. Indeed, the NHF was conceptualised to finance the treatment of chronic diseases. Therefore, why is the central government currently taking on yet another costly and unnecessary responsibility? The Government also runs the risk of under-utilising the NHF as the new health card might discourage NHF enrolment, which is currently only 28 per cent of the projected enrolment. The Government should consider narrowing its focus and being more specific as to the drugs offered under the health card, in order to not replicate NHF benefits and cut back on costs associated with drug procurement and provision.

The NHF institutional benefits and the CHASE Fund's health component both target the improvement of primary health facilities. Both are Government organisations but act independently. Pooling their respective resources and using one organisation for the administrative distribution of these resources increases efficiency and decreases overhead costs to the Government. The NHF has already designed a system to mitigate for possible abuses and increase its efficiency. This makes it a formidable entity through with to implement this strategy.

The aim of the current health reforms is equity, but objectives are unreachable and untenable unless financing is predictable and cost effective.

I am, etc.,

ANYA CUSHNIE

avcushnie@gmail.com

Jamaica