KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Cabinet has approved the establishment and appointment of a National Health Fund (NHF) Institutional Benefits Projects Review team.

The team will serve for one year and include Peter Jarvis (Chairman), Christopher Zacca, Gary Hendrickson, Dr Ernest Pate, Dr Lundie Richards, Patrick Lawrence, Dr Kurdell Espinosa, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health.

According to a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives on December 6, the work of the team will include reviewing applications currently with the NHF and ensuring their alignment with the strategic policy direction of the Ministry of Health.

 It will also include rationalising and recommending a prioritised list of projects that must be executed or terminated within the given time frames, and creating guidelines for the application and approval processes pertaining to each project.

The NHF was established to provide financial support to the national healthcare system to improve its effectiveness and the health of the Jamaican population.