The Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) Thursday, said
no fewer than 400,000 residents of the state would be registered in
the first phase of its contributory health scheme.
General Manager, DrAbiodunOyeneyin, who made this disclosure at a
press conference in Akure, said the commission would make sure that 10
per cent of 4.6 million of the residents had health insurance cover.
Oyeneyin said the commission had called on organisedlabour unions in
the state to continue discussions with civil servants to avail
themselves of the scheme.
He also said sensitisationprogrammes were ongoing to engage the
members of the informal sector on the likely amount to be charged by
ODCHC as premium for the informal sector health insurance plan.
The general manager said the state government was committed to
paying a certain premium for the benefit of the pregnant women and
children under five years in the state.
“This scheme is tagged Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance
Scheme and it was inaugurated on December 3, 2019.
“The state government is also considering procurement of health
insurance cover for people with disabilities. This is to ensure
universal coverage of the vulnerable in the state,” he stated.
Oyeneyin said apart from the vulnerable persons, all other residents
were expected to pay a premium for their health insurance under the
ODCHS.
“We promised that these packages for the formal and informal sectors
will be robust and affordable to ensure we grow the coverage every
year till we have universal health coverage in the state.
“Our health insurance policies will run for one year and cover the
principal enrollee, a spouse and 4 children.
“The hospitals to be accredited and put forward as providers of the
scheme shall be both public and private hospitals found suitable in
all the 18 local government areas of the state,” he said.
Oyeneyin urged the governments, citizens and donors to contribute to
the scheme. He said: “Health insurance is the most effective and
evidence-based contributory mechanism for health across the world.”
He called on well-meaning individuals and bodies to procure health
insurance plans for their aged parents, family members and friends,
adding that churches and mosques should also do it for their indigent
members. (NAN)
