The Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency has enrolled more than 1.2 million residents in its health insurance scheme as part of efforts to expand healthcare coverage.

KSCHMA’s executive secretary, Rahila Aliyu-Mukhtar, disclosed this in an interview on Friday in Kano.

Ms Aliyu-Mukhtar said the figure represents an increase in healthcare coverage from 3.2 per cent at the inception of the current administration to 8.5 per cent currently. She recalled that the agency inherited slightly above 400,000 enrollees when the administration took office.

“We have enrolled more than 1.2 million persons in Kano State and raised population coverage from 3.2 per cent to 8.5 per cent. So, 8.5 per cent of Kano residents are now enjoying KSCHMA services and quality healthcare across the state,” Aliyu-Mukhtar said.

The KSCHMA boss said the agency is also working toward making enrolment automatic for retirees leaving the state civil service.

Ms Aliyu-Mukhtar stated that KSCHMA currently has 684 healthcare facilities under the scheme, including 42 secondary facilities, 484 primary health care centres, and 92 private facilities across the state.

The KSCHMA said that the agency had digitised 484 PHCs and installed electronic medical records systems in high-volume secondary health facilities to improve healthcare delivery. According to her, KSCHMA has also digitised its claims process to reduce delays and improve efficiency.

She, however, identified inadequate awareness as one of the major challenges facing the scheme.

“We are enrolling people daily, so we must continue creating awareness about their rights, benefits, and what they should expect when they access care,” she said.

Ms Aliyu-Mukhtar urged Kano residents, particularly those in the informal sector, to embrace health insurance to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

(NAN)