The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has expressed readiness to support and collaborate with the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in the area of research. The Executive Secretary (ES), Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr Sola Akande, disclosed this, on Monday, when he received a delegation from the University College Hospital’s Department of Health Policy and Management led by its Head, Dr David Adewole, at the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
A statement signed by the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Gideon Alade, revealed that Dr Akande, while welcoming the delegation, stressed the need to partner with the Department to collaborate on publishing research papers in international journals, adding that such action would put OYSHIA on the global pedestal. Akande stated: “Health and education are the pillars of human development. Therefore, the idea of collaboration in this area is a very welcome development.”
The ES also expressed the Agency’s preparedness to partner with the Department on the development of its staff members, intimating the visiting team of some of the health insurance policies and activities of the Agency that are of benefit to the residents of the state. He advised the visiting team to also consider other innovative ways of tackling the issue of dilapidated structures of the institution, to which he promised the Agency’s support.
Earlier, the Head of Department (HOD), Health Policy and Management, Dr David Adewole, said the Department is proud of the Agency’s achievements in promoting the state’s health insurance policies. Adewole commended the Agency’s boss for what he had been able to achieve in the health insurance sub-sector of the state, which he said aligned with the vision of UCH’s Department of Policy. He noted: “We are proud of your Agency. OYSHIA is performing and oftentimes we listen to the radio about how you break down the importance of health insurance to a simpler form.”
The HOD however expressed concern over the fate of those currently undergoing programmes in different departments at the University of Ibadan, as most of the structures in the University are currently dilapidated. Dr Adewole opined that the Department and the Agency must collaborate on research and writing of academic papers, appealing to the Agency to equip the learning facility of the institution. The team, therefore, appealed to the OYSHIA to consider partnership with the Department, as it has a multiplier effect on the state and the health sector.
