NHF Boosts Processing of Prescriptions in Hurricane’s Aftermath

The National Health Fund (NHF) is providing vital medications to Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with 148,061 prescriptions processed for the period November 1 to 20.

The figure represents a 1.6 per cent increase over the 145,718-prescription count across Drug Serv facilities for the similar 20-day period in October.

“It means that we are serving the patients,” said Chief Executive Officer of the NHF, Everton Anderson.

“We have visited about 50 communities, very remote service areas, including using a bike service to get to patients. The team really has been very resilient in getting out there,” he said, noting that the warehouse and pharmacy teams in Kingston have been assisting their colleagues in the hurricane-impacted parishes.

Mr. Anderson was addressing the recent handover of more than US$200,000 worth of medications and vitamins by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, in support of Hurricane Melissa relief efforts, at the NHF’s offices in New Kingston.

He expressed gratitude for the contribution.

“We are happy to have these items to take out when we go out, because we are actually serving a large number of patients in vulnerable areas. These drugs that we are getting are very good for our chronic patients and will go a far way in helping us to recover,” he said.

More than 90 per cent of the public-sector facilities from which pharmacy services are provided have resumed the filling of prescriptions, with all the main pharmacy locations currently operational.

The remaining 10 per cent experienced major structural damage, and services are being monitored and delivered through mobile units.

In the most severely affected parishes of St. James, St. Elizabeth, Hanover and Westmoreland, where roads and facilities were damaged, the NHF rolled out mobile pharmacy units on November 4 to supplement service from fixed locations. The number of mobile units operating in these parishes has since expanded.

The NHF’s screening mobile has also being placed at Falmouth Health Centre in Trelawny and a new motorbike pharmacy service provided for remote communities in St. Elizabeth.

The mission of the NHF, which is an agency under the Ministry of Health and Wellness, is to provide funding for healthcare benefits, health promotion, health projects, and pharmacy services in a sustainable, efficient, and customer-centric environment.

The overarching goal is to eliminate financial barriers to healthcare for Jamaicans.