Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher

Tufton says the ministry is to roll out its wellness agenda soon.

“It includes a ‘Better For You’ menu in

restaurants. So, when you go to a restaurant you have items on the menu that

you can choose from, based on what is classified as being healthier in terms of

the balancing of diet,” Dr. Tufton said.

The minister was speaking at the launch of

Canopy Insurance, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday,

January 16.

“Our wellness agenda means promoting fresh [food], which is why we have market pop-ups, wellness garden in your backyard, a nutrition policy for schools to guide what our children consume each day, supporting the sugary drink restrictions and wellness at work programme,” Dr. Tufton said.

The minister noted that the wellness agenda

is aimed at encouraging Jamaicans to recognise the importance of the

preservation of health.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton provided an update on

the outsourcing of diagnostic services to 10 private-sector entities, and

pointed out that the Government has, so far, spent $35 million under the

initiative to help Jamaicans.

Regarding the National Health Insurance

Plan (NHIP) green paper, the minister said discussions are to be undertaken

across the country this year, ultimately leading to a white paper and a policy.

“One of the things I would like to do is to

encourage private providers like Canopy to participate in that national

discussion, and make suggestions as to how we can partner together in order to

strengthen that partnership,” Dr. Tufton said.

The document is expected to lead to a final

proposal, aimed at providing appropriate levels of access, coverage, and

financial protection to the population.

GraceKennedy and the Musson Group have

forged a partnership that has seen the two companies collaborating in the group

health and life insurance market under the name, Canopy Insurance Limited.

Chaired by Senator Don Wehby, the company,

which began operations in October 2019, currently serves 10,000 members island-wide.

Senator Wehby said, to date, there has been

a smooth rollout of Canopy across the length and breadth of Jamaica.

“Our customers have seen and experienced

the world-class technological innovation of our offerings and its ease of use,

and critically, the quality of our team members and their heavy focus on

customer service,” he said.

Senator Wehby added that the Canopy team

has been working very hard on the ground and has already set the bar very high

where customer experience is concerned.

“As a result, we have started to see encouraging signs of growth, with key accounts being signed, and even more promising deals to be made, on the horizon,” he noted.

— JIS