Health gets booster shot - Gov't pumps $100m to prep for free care
published:
Saturday | March 29, 2008
The government has earmarked $100 million to assist with preparatory activities for the abolition of user fees in all public-health facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies, according to Health Minister Rudyard Spencer.
The Jamaica Labour Party, in its election campaign last year, promised to abolish the fees if it were to win the September 3 general election. The abolition of fees is to take effect on April 1.
"We have already sent out to the various regions some $60 million. We have also retained a certain amount to assist in the purchasing of some critical items that we will need so that when they descend upon those facilities, we will have these things in place," Spencer said yesterday at a press conference, held at the Ministry of Health's downtown Kingston head offices.
Spencer said $40 million has been allocated for the purchase of small equipment and medical supplies such as stethoscopes, examination lamps, nebulisers, wheelchairs, blood glucose-testing machines and autoclaves.
Spencer warned that the abolition of user fees would not by itself eliminate the systemic problems of the public-health sector.
"What this policy will do is to infuse in all of us a sense of urgency and fixity of purpose in tackling these problems in a strategic, systematic, focused and consistent manner," Spencer said.
He noted that the National Health Services (Fees) Regulations would be amended to reflect the new policy.
Spencer told the gathering that the abolition of the fees means that the public-health sector would forego fees in the amount of $1.7 billion for the first year of implementation. The Government of Jamaica, he said, would provide a total of $3.85 billion. This is in light of the anticipated 30 per cent increase in patient load.
The health minister attempted to silence critics who claimed that the Government could not afford the new regime.
"There is no year we have been able to collect more than 15 per cent of the total cost. The 85 per cent had to be picked up by the Government. What essentially we are picking up is the 15 per cent we used to collect," the minister said.
petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com
Exemptions from the policy
User fees will be retained for:
Private patients, patients with health insurance and persons not resident in Jamaica. Public patients with health insurance will not be required to co-pay but insurance companies will be billed.
Morgue services, except for those services carried out for quality assurance or litigation purposes.
Certain primary-care services such as medical examinations for persons and related reports.
Administration fees for food handlers.
Immunisation and medication for international travel.
