THE council of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) on Tuesday passed a resolution endorsing government’s plan to establish a National Health Fund (NHF).

People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor Angella Burke, who moved the resolution, welcomed the Fund which she said would assist the needy to fill prescriptions for a range of chronic lifestyle illnesses.

She added that the fund would prevent misuse and abuse, as it would give participants the opportunity to shop around and to act as informed consumers.

She urged councillors to get acquainted with the programme and actively promote it.

For his part, deputy mayor and PNP councillor, Larel Thomas, said the Fund was a “fine piece” of legislation that would help to set the foundation for a strong healthy nation.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor, Senator Desmond McKenzie, also threw his support behind the fund. McKenzie told Tuesday’s monthly meeting that his party supported the Fund and used the occassion to urge government to spend more time and money on public education.

The resolution urged the KSAC to collectively use the appropriate officers to promote the programme and assist with the active registration of eligible individuals.

It also called on councillors in the Corporate Area to actively promote the programme and assist with the active registration of eligible individuals.

On March 24, Health Minister John Junor, announced that the NHF would be launched this month. The new scheme will provide drugs for a range of 13 chronic lifestyle diseases:

*arthritis;

*asthma;

*cancer of the breast;

*cancer of the prostrate;

* diabetes;

*epilepsy;

*glaucoma,

*hypertension;

*ischaemic heart disease;

*major depression;

*psychosis; and

* rheumatic fever heart disease and vascular disease.

Nearly a half of the cost of the $2.2 billion programme will be financed from a 23 per cent excise tax levied on tobacco products.