Registration for GOJ Health Card Begins Monday

Come Monday, February 3, registration will get underway for the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Health Card.

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 Servs as of March 3.

Speaking at a press briefing held on January 31 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said that registration forms have been provided to all the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) 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).

Minister Ferguson said it will 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,” Dr. 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 that every citizen of Jamaica is expected be registered and issued with a card overtime.

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

The card will give patrons of public health facilities ease of access to medications on the Vital Essential and Necessary (VEN) drug list at no cost.

It will also improve the mechanism to bill private health insurance providers, as it will state whether or not the individual has health insurance.