The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency has said the state’s National Health Insurance Scheme extended to students in tertiary institutions will reduce students’ pocket expenditure.

Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr Olusola Akande,said this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday on the sidelines of a two-day media dialogue in Ibadan.

The programme, organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund in collaboration with OYSHIA, has the theme “Changing the narrative on child mortality through health insurance.”

According to Mr Akande, the premium for the health insurance scheme goes as low as N13,500 per annum for each person, adding that the informal sector is also accommodated and given the opportunity to pay on a monthly basis.

“Enrollment in the health insurance scheme will create an enabling environment whereby the students who develop issues can walk to the institution’s clinic or sick bay to access medical care.

“So, this reduces out-of-pocket expenditures to a certain percentage. Like here, OYSHIA pays a capitation of 55 per cent of the premium.

“We have other benefits and transformations that are going on in our various institutions, being part of the impact that health insurance is making in the education sector in Oyo State. This will give parents and guardians confidence about the health and care of their children and they will worry less because the institution is covered by a health insurance scheme,” he added.

The OYSHIA Executive Secretary, while applauding UNICEF for the collaboration, said that the services extended to tertiary care included consultation, investigation, drugs, basic surgical intervention, and ENT, among others

He, however, urged other states to create an awareness-raising and enabling environment for students and members of the community to access the scheme initiated for both the rich and the poor.

(NAN)