The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to increase access to quality and affordable healthcare service through the implementation of its much awaited Health Insurance Scheme (LSHS).
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made the assertion in Lagos at the end of the 2017 State Council on Health Meeting.
A statement signed by Mrs Adeola Salako, the Director, Public Affairs, said theme is: “Universal Health Coverage – Working Toward a Sustainable Health Care Agenda’’ and sub-theme: “Instituting the Lagos State Health Scheme”.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the State Council on Health is the highest policy advisory body on health in Lagos State.
It provides a veritable forum for dialogue between a broad spectrum of decision makers, policy implementers and key stakeholders from all spheres of the Lagos Health Sector.
Idris said: “Two major issues, which include informal sector participation and enrollment in the LSHS as well as domestic resource mobilisation to fund the scheme were arrived at the council meeting.
“It was resolved that to effectively gain traction within the informal sector in terms of coverage of the LSHS, premium payment should be broken down based on earnings.
“Premium collection should be brought to their places of business and several agents should be engaged to effect same.”
He said the council also resolved that there should be massive enlightenment and sensitisation of the informal sector to aid participation in the scheme.
The commissioner added that capacity building and orientation should be invested in to enhance health-seeking behaviour.
Idris said that the resolutions include leveraging on the use of information technology such as social media; use of IEC materials such as fliers, handbill, posters and banners and need for inter-sectorial collaboration.
Idris said that implementation of the scheme lends credence to the state government’s position that all people and communities should have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.
According to him, such services must be of sufficient quality, be effective and residents should not suffer financial hardship when paying for the services.
“This year’s session is especially significant at this time as the state is on the verge of commencing the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS),” the commissioner said.
Idris explained that the journey to having a State Health Insurance Scheme has been a long, but purposeful one.
He said that the seed was planted at the beginning of democratic dispensation in 1999 as a necessary strategic intervention toward the State’s Health Sector Reform.
The commissioner said that the programme was put on hold until the national policy milieu provided an enabling environment for states willing to implement a State Health Insurance Scheme.
“The Lagos State Government’s resolve to have its own scheme is further evidenced by the fact that the state’s health financing direction was a major subject matter at the last two State Councils on Health meeting held in 2013 and 2015.
“At the 2015 State Council on Health in particular, it was agreed that the LSHS should be made compulsory to promote universal coverage.
“The payment structure for the scheme should be flexible and the benefit package should be made robust and easy to understand.
“It must be attractive to prospective clients and ensures ease of access,” he said.
Idris said that Lagos was proud to be the first in achieving legislative backing for a mandatory Social Health Insurance Programme which was signed into Law in 2015.
He said that since the signing of the law, a lot of works and due diligence have been done by a committed Core Implementation Team comprising of technical partners and recognised individuals.
The commissioner said, “It might seem like a lot of time has passed since the enactment of the law for the implementation of the scheme to be just commencing.
“However, a lot of technical studies and pilot schemes have been done to ensure that we get it right as the scheme is expected to be a catalyst for the Lagos State Health Reform.”