The National Health Fund (NHF) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme “Reigniting the Health Financing Agenda”.

The theme seeks to highlight the need to establish a National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) for Jamaica, as the Jamaican population faces out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures of over 28 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, putting families at risk of impoverishment in the event of a serious health crisis.

For 20 years, the NHF has exercised prudent management of the resources with which it is entrusted to ensure the continued support of its clients, and to facilitate infrastructural development in the health sector. As the Fund looks toward the future, the need for the implementation of the NHIP has become crucial. Increasing health care costs will challenge the government’s ability to adequately finance public health care, hence the need for a viable option.

The NHF’s mission is to provide funding for specified healthcare benefits, health promotion, health projects and pharmacy services in a sustainable, efficient, and customer-centric environment.

It achieves this through a multi-pronged approach, which includes helping Jamaicans access medication in the public and private sectors through the NHF Card. It also delivers in-patient and outpatient pharmacy services for the public health sector through the management of the medical warehouse, pharmacies in the public health sector, and provides grants to institutions to improve the delivery of health care delivery through infrastructure development, training medical equipment and transportation.

The NHF also supports multiple health-promotion programmes to aid in the prevention, reduction, and management of non-communicable and communicable diseases.

“Our twentieth anniversary is a milestone of which we can all be proud. It’s an indication of our resilience, our determination, and our unwavering commitment to excellence as we work to improve the health and well-being of individuals across Jamaica,” said Everton Anderson, CEO of the NHF.

“I am proud to lead such an incredible organization that has achieved so much over the past two decades. Reaching this milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and I am excited to see what we will accomplish in the years to come,” he added.

The NHF has a proven track record of success, having implemented numerous programmes and initiatives to assist Jamaicans. The organization’s work has been recognized by numerous awards and accolades, including being a three-time winner of the Ministry of Finance & the Public Service & and the Private Sector of Jamaica’s Award for Best Public Sector Entity. The Agency has also been a winner of the Prime Minister’s Trophy for The Best Customer Service Entity.

“As we celebrate our twentieth anniversary, I am proud to look back on the NHF’s incredible achievements. We have come a long way since our founding, and I want to thank the members of our team for their unwavering commitment to our mission. I look forward to many more years of success and growth,” noted Chairman, Shane Dalling.

He added, “our organisation has made a positive impact on the health of countless Jamaicans and communities, and we should all take pride in our contributions. Congratulations to everyone on this significant milestone, and let’s continue to work together to make a difference in the years ahead.”

With nearly 700-thousand beneficiaries enrolled, the NHF has over the past 20 years spent nearly 60 billion dollars for drug subsidies.

Other events planned for the NHF’s 20th anniversary include a campaign to plant 20-thousand trees islandwide, blood pressure screening for 20-thousand persons on World Hypertension Day on May 17, a long service awards banquet, and an open day.

Details of these events will be shared via traditional and social media platforms.