Government to introduce new health card

Effective March 3, the Government will be introducing a new health card.
The announcement was made on Friday by Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Health Minister at a media briefing in the western city of Montego Bay.

In outlining the benefits of  the new card, Ferguson said all Jamaicans are eligible but will have to register.He said the card will improve patient management and monitoring, as well as safeguard against abuse of  the public health system.

" The card will allow the tracking of drugs dispensed to patients in all facilities, especially in cases where patients attend multiple facilities and receive medication more than once in a very short period for the same ailment," he said.
    
For the time being only regional hospitals, the Spanish Town Hospital and the four centres of  excellence will have swipe machines.A full roll out is expected in the next 18 months of this new  system that will cost the government J$22 million per month.
  

Registration for the new health card will begin on Monday at all public health care facilities, the Ministry of  Health's Head Office and theNational Health Fund (NHF).
Registration will continue for 6 months, after which the card will become mandatory, except in the case of  emergencies.  

Persons will be required to provide personal information including date of  birth and a taxpayer registration number (TRN)
Ferguson explained, that staff  from the Ministry of  Health have been trained for the implementation of  the card.
The card, which will be delivered by mail, will be used to access all public health care services.  Persons who have NHF cards will not be required to apply for the new health card.