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#BudgetDebate2019 | Financial help coming for lupus patients, NHF to cover medication

Published:Tuesday | March 19, 2019 | 5:00 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness - Rudolph Brown photo

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that starting April 30, 2019 lupus will be added to the list of illnesses covered by the National Health Fund (NHF).

This is estimated to cost the Government $340 million annually.

However, Holness, who is now making his contribution to the 2019-2020 Budget debate in parliament, made it clear that the move was not done for any political benefit.

He said adding lupus to the list of illnesses covered by the NHF was economically sustainable.

Holness indicated that the move was influenced by a woman who related how she was struggling financially to cope with the illness.

He said typically it costs between $50,000 and $60,000 per month to treat the condition "depending on the medicine prescribed."

According to Holness, approximately 6,000 Jamaicans have the condition, a vast majority being females.

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