NHIS: Governing council engages stakeholders for improved service

Sat, Mar 24, 2018 | By publisher


Health

THE Governing Council of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) says it has embarked on a programme of stakeholders’ engagement to stabilise the health insurance industry.

Mr Ayo Osinlu, Head, Media and Public Relations, NHIS, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

It said the engagement was a practical expression to restore all breaches of the law and operational processes.

According to the statement, one of such meetings attended by members of the governing council, management of NHIS and representatives of critical stakeholders, took place at the head office of the organisation in Abuja.

It quoted Dr Enyantu Ifenne, the Chairman of the council, saying the programme was aimed at identifying challenges on different fronts, with intention to find acceptable solutions to them.

She however regretted the poor quality of service under the scheme in the past resulting in erosion of public confidence, enrolee dissatisfaction and de-motivation of some sections of service providers.

Ifenne noted that the success of the different stakeholders and industry as a whole was the degree to which enrollees are satisfied with the quality of service provided in the system.

The chairman expressed the resolve of the council to honour the place and voice of all stakeholders in the new dispensation.

She warned that the breaches and outright disregard of obligations and duties witnessed in the past would no longer be tolerated.

The statement also quoted Prof. Usman Yusuf, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, observed that all stakeholders were jointly culpable for the degeneration in the system.

Yusuf said: “Stakeholders have tolerated abuses and breaches of confidence for far too long, dutiful observance of relevant laws and operational guidelines by all, is the only way forward.’’

It further stated that issues canvassed during the meeting towards revamping quality of service within the industry include recovering public confidence, review of enabling laws and guidelines as well as existing tariffs and capitation.

Others are reaccreditation of service providers to ensure that only competent players are on board, with the need to develop new innovative programmes to grow the scheme’s enrolee base.

A robust and world-class ICT platform that would guarantee the accuracy and integrity of data as well as the exclusion of tertiary health institutions from primary healthcare, among others.

The stakeholders represented at the meeting were the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

Others include Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) and the Medical Science Laboratory Association of Nigeria (MSLAN). (NAN)

– Mar. 24, 2018 @ 4:20 GMT |

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