The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has urged residents of Rivers State to enrol in its health insurance programme as a means to strengthen the state’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF).
The call was made by the NHIA State Coordinator, Mr Itodu Christopher, during a stakeholders’ meeting convened for Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers on Friday in Port Harcourt.
Christopher revealed that plans were underway for workers in Rivers State to enrol in the Formal Sector Health Insurance Programme, a move that would mark a significant stride towards achieving universal health coverage in the state.
“The enrolment level in the state is encouraging.
“With the state already operating the BHPF, we believe increased enrolment will further strengthen the system,” he said.
He also addressed concerns raised about the quality of generic drugs prescribed by healthcare providers.
While noting that the use of generic medications was a globally accepted standard in health insurance schemes, he acknowledged that many patients in Nigeria wrongly perceived them as inferior.
“I don’t know of any hospital that would deliberately stock substandard drugs in its pharmacy,” he said.
Christopher explained that generic drugs are equally as effective as branded medications, adding that the higher cost of branded drugs typically results from advertising and packaging, which patients ultimately pay for.
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The meeting also featured Mrs Christie Agbale, Programme Director at NHIA, who outlined several of the agency’s flagship initiatives. These included the:
- Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme,
- Public Sector Social Health Insurance Programme (PSSHIP), and
- Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP), among others.
Agbale noted that the PSSHIP covers employees, their spouses, and children under 18 years of age, and is funded by contributions from both workers and government employers.
She also listed some of the key documents required for enrolment in the NHIA programme, including:
- Letter of introduction from employer
- Valid means of identification
- Appointment letter
- Three months’ payslip
- National Identification Number (NIN)
- Bank verification certificate
- Marriage certificate (or sworn affidavit for spouse)
- Birth certificates for children
She said beneficiaries are entitled to a comprehensive health package, covering surgeries, maternity care, emergency care, consultations, laboratory tests, paediatrics, general medical services, dental care, eye care, and more.
In her remarks, Dr Precious Ibiene, Health Representative of United Progressive Health Managers Organisation, expressed satisfaction with the NHIA stakeholder engagement, describing it as insightful and productive.
“Most of the questions were sorted out, and those that weren’t were acknowledged and will be addressed accordingly,” she said.
Dr Ibiene noted that issues such as the non-generation of codes and non-payment to primary healthcare providers were discussed thoroughly.
She stressed the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to achieve universal health coverage.
“We are all coming together to make sure there is health coverage for everybody in the country.
“We hope that with everything put in place, everybody will actually receive better healthcare,” she said.