In a bid to ensure that all residents in Lagos state have access to quality and affordable health care services, the state government has on Tuesday launched the health insurance scheme.
The Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwummi Ambode, at the official launching of the scheme in the state, said the overall goal of the Scheme was for all residents to have unhindered access to quality healthcare at an affordable price.
To ensure that the vulnerable group and the poorest in the state have access to quality healthcare services at no cost, Ambode said the state government has set aside one percent consolidated revenue in the 2018 state budget to fund their healthcare needs.
The state governor, however, called on the private and corporate organizations to assist the poor in their community through the state health insurance scheme.
The commissioner for health, Dr. Jide Idris said the people living in the state, no matter their socio-economic status, remain the greatest asset of the state. He said the state has put measures in place to enable each and every individual to achieve their full potential.
To this end, Idris said the state government has committed one percent of the consolidated revenue as part of the Lagos state health fund to be used in paying premiums for the poorest individuals and families in the state.
Other sources of funding, according to the commissioner will include local and international donors, individual philanthropist, private organizations and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) hopefully through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
He said the poor and vulnerable individuals will be identified through a transparent and scientific means testing exercise which will be carried out periodically, adding that the number of lives and the productivity lost to illness will be significantly reduced.
“We are enrolling some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in the state in Alimosho local government area and Makoko area of Yaba LCDA. At the end of the exercise, it is expected that over 15,000 individuals will be enrolled by the Scheme as a start,” he added.
Idris, however, implored all residents in the state to register at their various designated locations and be champions of the scheme.
Source: Leadership