KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The National Health Fund (NHF) has extended its opening hours in order to facilitate longer hours of interface with its customers, beneficiaries and providers.

As of Monday, November 30, the Customer Care Department at the NHF’s Dominica Drive headquarters will open from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and 7:00 am to 3:30 pm on Friday.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, NHF’s Vice President for Individual Benefits, Ann Logan, explained that the move is intended to improve service delivery to the agency’s customers.

“We will be extending our hours of operation to the general public. They will now be able to come in to the NHF and do business from as early as seven in the morning,” she pointed out.

Logan told JIS News that the 7:00 am opening, which is one and a half hours earlier than the previous 8: 30 start, will facilitate persons, who wish to do business before going to work.

Special provision has also been made for providers.

“Between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, our pharmacies will be able to call in with their queries to be addressed at that time. This is a new service that is being offered and is in response to the needs of our providers. Many of the pharmacies open until quite late and they process prescriptions after 5: 00 pm for beneficiaries, so we are improving our service in this area,” she explained.

Logan told JIS News that in order to provide the extended service the NHF will be establishing flexible work hours for staff.

This is in keeping with the Employment (Flexible Work Arrangements) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, passed in the Houses of Parliament.

The legislation is aimed at enhancing productivity, increasing employment opportunities, and enable workers to better structure their lives through a flexible employee/employer work agreement.