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Bolu-Olu Esho
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday declared open a Two-day Maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) held in Akure, Ondo State capital.
The summit, with the theme: Economic Realities and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Dream: Mobilizing State for a Scalable Health Insurance, saw officials of social health insurance agencies from the 36 states of the Federation and FCT converge on the International Culture and Event Centre(The Dome), Alagbaka, Akure to deliberate on how to improve on the funding and quality of health services with a view to reducing the financial burden on patients and mortality rate in the country.
In a his address, Aiyedatiwa stated that besides ensuring adequate funding of health sector, it should be backed by modern facilities and human resources.
He disclosed that his administration decided to remove financial burden from retirees in the state by enrolling them pro bono in the health insurance scheme of the state.
Different speakers at the event, including Mohammed Safana, Dorector-General, Katsina State contributory Healthcare Management Agency and chairman, Forum of CEOs SSHIAs, stated that the focus of the summit is to fashion out how to protect from financial burden in seeking healthcare services.
He revealed that over 14 million Nigerians have been registered into social health insurance scheme.
Safana noted that discentralising health insurance is working as he commended
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for increasing the funding of the healthcare services.
This he said has increased the number of enrollment for the scheme across the country.
He described the summit as a platform for collective problem-solving move which will take Nigeria to where affordable and quality healthcare services are possible.
Earlier in his address, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, stated that the summit would avail the stakeholders to tackle one of the most definitely challenges of health sector in Nigeria.
He said resources must be mobilised, while efforts should be directed at blocking leakages and employ technologies in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General/CEO, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), who represented Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Alli Pate, urged that all hands must be on deck.
He said efforts must be made by health insurance agencies to mobilise fund to cover those who can’t pay premium.
Pate said it’s imperative to fund the healthcare services for the poor and the vulnerable.
He said trust and credibility are restored in health insurance programme as efforts to creating resilient health insurance architecture should be part of the focus of the agencies.
Kelechi Ohiri urged all health insurance agencies to make people resident in the remotest areas be their priorities.
Moreover, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin, Director-General, Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, stated that the 2-day programme would see the stakeholders deliberate on how to increase the enrollment of people both in the formal and informal sectors in the health insurance scheme across the nation.
He said during the panel sessions, professionals would discuss evolution of state social health insurance schemes in Nigeria: From Federal pilot to state-led Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In the second session, the panelists would deliberate on expanding coverage: scalable strategies that shift UHC from paper to people.
Oyeneyin appreciated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for accepting the hosting of the maiden health summit.