KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Health Fund (NHF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Past Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to provide direct healthcare support to members of the organisation.

The two-year agreement, which was signed on Thursday, December 15, will come into effect in February 2023.

This, against the background that age is a natural risk factor for the onset of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Consequently, retired Jamaicans are frequently diagnosed with these conditions.

The MOU outlines that the NHF will provide general screening tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, haemoglobin and BMI/waist circumference.

It will also screen for: prostate cancer through the prostate-specific antigen/digital rectal exam (PSA/DRE) and cervical and breast cancers through the mammogram and pap smear.

Members of the Association will also benefit from health education, nutrition counselling, physical activity and mental health services. Eligible members without an NHFCard will also be enrolled in the NHFCard Programme to aid in reducing out-of-pocket costs for medication.

“The financial challenge among retirees has also been apparent. When there is no longer a consistent income, persons are inevitably burdened by the cost of imminent healthcare needs. As the agency with a vision of attaining no financial barriers to healthcare, the NHF is pleased for the opportunity to partner with the APMJCF in addressing these challenges among the retirees,” said chief executive officer Everton Anderson.

Special provisions have also been made for persons 60 years and older through the NHFCard Programme. Persons enrolled for one or more of the ten conditions covered by the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP) get needed drugs free of cost at participating pharmacies.

Beneficiaries are only required to pay an administrative cost of $40 per drug item, and up to $240 for six items or more to the participating pharmacy. Seventy-seven prescription items are available to JADEP beneficiaries.

“We have signed an MOU with the JCF before where we offered screening. From that arrangement, we saw that males especially do not have health-seeking behaviours. I want to urge the men to take advantage of the benefits of this partnership, particularly the PSA/DRE tests for prostate cancer,” Anderson said.

The NHF also offers subsidies on 17 chronic conditions – arthritis, asthma, benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), breast cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, high cholesterol, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, lupus, major depression, prostate cancer, psychosis, rheumatic fever/heart disease, sickle cell disease, vascular disease.

Beneficiaries can fill their prescriptions at discounted rates at any of over 450 participating pharmacies island-wide.