LSHIS: A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES IN THE FEDERATION – USAID REPRESENTATIVE
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Abimbola Kola-Jebutu has expressed optimism that the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (LSHIS) would be a model for other states in the country.
The Representative made the declaration during the presentation of the findings of a health sector assessment process by the State Government in collaboration with USAID-funded Health Finance & Governance (HFG), tagged: “Evidenced Synthesis on Fiscal Space Analysis, Governance & State Health Account Assessments”.
Reports from the project revealed that the introduction of the State Health Insurance Scheme will grow health services but increase the workload on the state’s institutional capacity. The project, which is aimed towards achieving Actuarial Analysis of the projected costs of providing insurance coverage for the State’s benefit programmes, also noted that some existing health facilities require urgent attention.
Presenting the findings at a workshop, themed: “Lagos State Evidence Synthesis Workshop” in Lagos, Dr. Tanko Yakassai, a Consultant to the HFG project, said that the project revealed that the current institutional capacity of the State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, cannot take up the responsibility required for the take-off of the scheme, hence, the need to strengthen the agency to carry out its functions.
According to him, the report, which observed that Lagos State has relatively adequate human resources for health and well-distributed health facilities, recommended that the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy must be fully implemented.
Dr. Yakassai said that State Primary Health Care Management Boards, SPHCMB, were not able to effectively hold PHC workers accountable due to non–implementation of PHCOUR.
He stressed the need for policy sustainability, and capacity building to ensure consensus and coalition formulation for continuous appraisal of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.
On his part, Dr. Jide Idris, the State Commissioner for Health, said the assessment was done to ensure proper packaging of the State Health Insurance Scheme for effective service delivery.
The Commissioner, represented by the Director, Healthcare Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Olufemi Taiwo, said the Scheme was mandatory for all residents of the State, saying that “Prior to this Scheme, we have assisted our people with the free health programme which has overstretched our services in view of the high burden of patients treated at our health institutions”.
“The HFG project will assist us in working out the modalities such as provider’s payment mechanism, and ensure it becomes a reality and a huge success. A lot of meetings are going on for operational guidelines and we are also working on ICT,” he explained.
Idris also disclosed that the package for the Health Insurance Scheme will cover screening, diagnosis and treatment for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, ante/post natal services, Nutrition, Immunization, Hypertension and Diabetes.
Others include communicable and non-communicable diseases, HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Emergency Services.