The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has urged residents of Rivers to enrol in the NHIA programme to strengthen the state’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF). 

The state NHIA coordinator, Itodu Christopher, made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the agency for Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers in Port Harcourt on Friday.

He revealed that plans were underway for Rivers workers to enrol in the formal sector programme, which would mark a significant step toward achieving universal health coverage in the state.

Expressing optimism, Mr Christopher said the initiative would be a major boost to the state’s healthcare system.

“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 about the quality of generic drugs prescribed to patients by healthcare providers.

The state coordinator noted that health insurance schemes globally encouraged the use of generic drugs, but patients in this part of the world often perceived them as substandard.

He emphasised that the purpose of the stakeholder engagement was to educate the public on the safety and efficacy of generic medications.

“I don’t know of any hospital that would deliberately stock substandard drugs in its pharmacy,” he said.

Mr Christopher encouraged the public to embrace generic drugs, stating that they are just as effective as branded ones. He explained that the higher cost of branded drugs was due to advertising and packaging expenses, which are passed on to the consumer.

Also speaking, Christie Agbale, NHIA programme director, outlined some of the agency’s key programmes, including the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme and the Public Sector Social Health Insurance Programme (PSSHIP).

Others include the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP), among others.

Ms Agbale explained that the PSSHIP covered employees, their spouses, and children under 18 years and was being funded by contributions from both employees and government employers.

She also listed some registration requirements for enrolment in the NHIA, including a letter of introduction from the organisation and a valid means of identification. Appointment letter, three months payslip, National Identification Number (NIN), bank certificate, marriage certificate (or court affidavit for spouse), and birth certificate for children.

She noted some of the benefits of the package as a comprehensive health package, including surgeries, maternity care, emergency care, consultation, laboratory tests, paediatrics, general medical care, dental care, eye care, and more.

In her response, Precious Ibiene, the health representative of the United Progressive Health Managers Organisation, expressed satisfaction with the NHIA stakeholders’ engagement.

Ms Ibiene described the meeting as enlightening, noting that it brought together key stakeholders, including HMOs and hospital managers.

She also expressed satisfaction with the responses provided to the questions raised during the engagement.

“Most of the questions were sorted out and the ones that were still being looked into, we are told that it will be attended to also.

“Some issues addressed are the non-generation of codes on time and non-payment to primary healthcare providers. We are all coming together to make sure that there is health coverage for everybody in the country.

“We hope that with everything put in place, everybody will actually receive better healthcare,” Ms Ibiene said.

(NAN)