The Edo State government has launched a comprehensive health insurance enrollment campaign targeting the state’s security network vigilantes, and pensioners from local and state governments.
Spearheaded by the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDHIC), this initiative is a testament to Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare to its citizens.
The enrollment drive kicked off on Thursday, June 13 at the Oredo Local Government Area (LGA) Secretariat, Ring Road, Benin City.
The campaign marks the beginning of a series of enrollments scheduled across the three senatorial districts of Edo South, Edo Central, and Edo North, following a meticulously planned timetable.
The Edo South Senatorial District saw the first wave of enrollments, with Oredo LGA hosting sessions on June 13 and 14. The following days will witness similar exercises in Ikpoba-okha, Egor, Ovia North East, Ovia South-West, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde LGAs.
The Central District follows accordingly, starting with Esan Central LGA on June 13 and moving through Esan South-East, Esan North-East, Esan West, and Igueben LGAs.
The Northern District’s schedule includes Akoko Edo, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Etsako West LGAs, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the state.
Mr. Efemwenkiekie Nosa Nesta, the Director of ICT-Customer Service at EDOHIS, shared insights into the scheme’s benefits and the government’s role in subsidizing premiums for the enrolled parties.
“These persons are going to join the scheme for free because the State Government is the one sponsoring their premiums. So for a year, they will receive healthcare without paying to us,” he stated.
According to Mr. Nesta, evidence of the scheme’s success is shown by the testimonies of over 240,000 individuals who have experienced its benefits firsthand. He emphasized the scheme’s objective to reduce healthcare costs significantly, rather than eliminating bills.
Despite initial challenges with enrollees abusing the free services, the introduction of minimal out-of-pocket payments has curbed misuse and ensured services are utilized by those genuinely in need.
“The goal of Insurance is not to eliminate the bill but to significantly reduce the cost for people. Some schemes might charge you for everything, and even take a percentage. But for us, we are only taking percentages from drugs and tests, which are investigations. What that means is that if you get into a registered facility, you are going to pay 10% of our prices.”
“We don’t use hospital prices. Most of the hospitals we are using, both public and private, are expensive. Health care generally is expensive. But when you go to these facilities, they can only charge you 10% of our pricing. So we have our prices that they work with when we all signed a contractual agreement.”
“When we started, these out-of-pocket payments were not there. But we had to put a kind of deterrent because we noticed some of our earliest enrollees were abusing the process. They can go to a facility and get a drug that they don’t need because it’s free. But once they know that they are paying something, they will not go to a facility, unless they are seriously ill,” he stated.
Mr. Nesta expresses satisfaction with the turnout, confessing that it has been particularly impressive among the Edo State Security and Vigilante Network members, with local government pensioners also showing encouraging participation.
However, Mr. Nesta also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of dispelling fears among pensioners regarding deductions from their pensions.
He argued, “Another thing people need to know is that nothing is being deducted from their pensions because that’s what a lot of them are afraid of. Those that turned up, we have encouraged them to reach out to their colleagues that the costs have been handled by the State government, and that nobody has deducted from their pensions.”
An EDOHIS official at Oredo LGA underscored the scheme’s commitment to accessibility, detailing how this will be facilitated during the process.
He noted, “After enrollment, we’ll provide a card for each person and assign a facility close to their residence to minimize transport expenses.”
He also commended Governor Obaseki’s decision to include these groups in the scheme reflects a gesture of gratitude towards those who have served the state
“We at Edo State Health Insurance Commission are pleased to be doing this because it is interesting to see people who taught you in primary school, come here and receive care because they’ve given to the society, and the society is giving back to them,” he said.
The EDOHIS initiative is a shining example of a government’s dedication to its people’s well-being, setting a benchmark for other states to follow. As the enrollment drive progresses, the hope is that every eligible individual will seize this opportunity to secure their health, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all residents of Edo State.
As the enrollment process continued to gain momentum, various enrollees, resonated with gratitude, noted not only the immediate impact of the scheme but also underscored the Edo State government’s dedication to improving the lives of its citizens.
“Healthcare in Nigeria can be prohibitively expensive, but with EDOHIS, I only pay a fraction of the cost. It shows that the government is truly thinking about our pockets,” a retired teacher observed.
“I’ve been telling everyone I know to enroll. The benefits are real, and it’s not every day that you see a government initiative that delivers on its promises,” said Mr. Joseph, a security network member.
With its focus on inclusivity and affordability, EDOHIS appears to be setting a new standard for healthcare in Nigeria. The enrollees’ comments are a powerful testament to the transformative power of thoughtful governance.