Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed the bill for the establishment of the State Health Insurance Agency and Scheme into law, commending Governor Udom Emmanuel for making budgetary provision of N600 million for the scheme. Luke, who was the lead sponsor of the bill, noted that the budgetary provision of N600 million by Governor Emmanuel will help the smooth take-off of scheme, adding that citizens will count on the wisdom of the state executive to appoint competent hands to manage the agency created by the law.
The Speaker who listed some of the reasons that prompted the law, said: “First, is the fact that this House believes that every Akwa Ibom citizen deserves access to good and affordable healthcare services. “Also, experts aver that the domestication of the scheme will not only spur equitable distribution of healthcare costs among different income groups, but protect families from the hardship of huge medical bills.
“The state cannot guarantee sustainable development until we are able to holistically guarantee improved healthcare services through making available, laws that will guarantee government’s insurance in the health sector.
“It is for this reason that this House thought it imperative to create a health insurance scheme and an agency to manage the scheme.” And this is in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 which is to achieve universal health coverage including financial risk protection.”
He commended the House Committee on Health chaired by member representing Uyo constituency, Monday Eyo for doing a thorough job on this bill as well as stakeholders within the state health sector, whose contributions were central to the outcome of the law. The Speaker announced that the second legislative year ends on today, and the House to resume for the third legislative year on June, 13, 2017.
Source:MWN
