Board Chairman of the Ondo State Hospitals’ Management Board (HMB), Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, has urged the State’s Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) to encourage more people to enroll in its scheme to benefit from quality healthcare delivery.
Dr. Fasoranti made this call while leading other board members on a courtesy visit to the commission in Akure.
According to him, the informal sector constitutes the majority of the State’s population, and it is crucial to bring more people into the health insurance scheme through the support of organisations.
He commended the government for implementing health insurance in the State, noting that the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) for both public servants and the informal sector has made healthcare accessible to enrollees without the need for out-of-pocket payments.
While praising the leadership of the commission for its efforts, Dr. Fasoranti said this initiative would improve service delivery from healthcare providers.
Dr. Fasoranti, who described health insurance as an essential need, called on the commission to cover a significant percentage of the state’s population within a short period.
He added, “You should encourage more people to register in the scheme through the service providers.”
The HMB chairman assured the board’s commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of health insurance in the state to help achieve the vision and mission of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for the sector.
Director-General of ODCHC, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin in his remarks stated that the commission is tasked with providing health insurance to all residents of the state.
He described the HMB as a key partner in the achievement of the commission’s mandate to register and coordinate health insurance in the state.
The DG explained that government alone cannot finance healthcare to the desired standard, as there has not been enough funding for qualitative healthcare in Nigeria.
Dr. Oyeneyin pointed out that while many countries fund their healthcare systems through public or tax-based funding, Nigeria relies on out-of-pocket payments.
According to him, challenges to health insurance in Nigeria include a high disease burden and poor health indicators, poor infrastructure, high drug costs, inadequate service delivery, the exodus of health workers, lack of modern equipment, low uptake of health insurance, low budgetary provision, and leadership instability.
He further explained that Ondo State is on the path to achieving universal health coverage, with hopes of making its health insurance scheme a model for the country.
Dr. Oyeneyin further revealed that the commission has three products: the Abiyamo scheme, ORANGHIS, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (BHCPFP), all of which have recorded successes.
He however assured that the commission would intensify its efforts through sensitisation and awareness creation to improve the state’s standing in health insurance within Nigeria.
