By Amb Friday Bako
There are strong indications that Plateau State is on the pathway to attaining universal health care coverage.
This is coming as the State launched the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) an initiative by the Federal Government geared towards providing free health services to Nigerians.
The BHCPH is aimed at ensuring the provision of a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services to all Nigerians, by applying 50% of the funds towards purchase of the BMPHS to be managed by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
45% of BHCPF will disbursed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) is one of the Gateways for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
The Agency carries out the demand side of the gateways; revenue mobilization, pooling risks, strategic purchasing and service delivery.
About 28,091 persons in Plateau State have been captured and issued with cards to access free healthcare services across the 17 LGAs of the State.
The Director General of Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam said the State has paid has paid its counterpart fund of 25% and is in receipt of over N337 million as Premium being the State share of the 2019 fiscal year disbursement from the NHIS gateway.
Dr. Fabong said the scheme distribution so far covers 14,293 Children under 5 years of age, 6,709 elderly, 4,087 pregnant women and 3,002 persons living with disabilities.
He said PLASCHEMA acquired basic ICT enrolment hardware’s with 4:4:2 fingerprints scanners, tablets and portable printers.
“We have also acquired the NIN softwares through PICTDA
We have completed enrolment across the 325 State wards”
“The Agency did a facility readiness assessment and from the over 1000 PHCs across the State, and accredited 325 PHCs that met the basic minimum standard for primary services and 52 secondary facilities” he said.
The Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo lauded the State for keying into the BHCPF and assured the State of support to ensure all eligible persons are covered and benefit from the Scheme.
He expressed optimism that there will be better quality of life through the BHCPF as the Federal Government has earmarked 1% of its consolidated revenue for healthcare.
In his remark, Gov. Lalong who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden assured the citizens that the present government will ensure all ongoing hospitals in the legacy projects are completed. He said the present administration has completed the hospitals in Riyom, Kanke and Langtang South which are ready for commissioning.
He said the government place high premium on health, hence it investments in the sector.
Prof. Tyoden said BHCPF will improve the life expectancy of the State as well as decline in mortality rate.
“There is no doubt that out-of-pocket payments for health services have been considered a highly regressive method of healthcare financing globally and it greatly deepens inequity in access to healthcare”
“As at today, it constitutes over 70% of the methods of healthcare financing in Nigeria. The inequity in access negatively affects the poor and vulnerable among us to a greater proportion. This is because at their point of seeking healthcare, they are squeezed between seeking the care that they need and meeting other basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter” he disclosed.
He said 2% of the State & LGs consolidated Funds are being set aside for the purpose.
“This is a deliberate effort by the government towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and contributing to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund”
“This has tremendously increased the fiscal space for health in the State in a greatly sustainable manner through legislation. With this increased expenditure on health in Plateau State and the provision of premiums by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, it is our undying hope that maternal mortality rates will precipitously decline, and our children will no longer die from preventable childhood illnesses through robust immunization, provision of vaccines, essential medicines and management of these ailments at the Primary Healthcare Centres” he said.
He also said that The Plateau State Government will ensure appropriate and strict management of the BHCPF in accordance with the provisions of its establishing Act and operational guidelines. This will justify the confidence reposed on the State Government by the Federal Government and donor Agencies.
With the Covid-19 pandemic and dwindling resources, this initiative has come to help the government of Plateau State increase the fiscal space for health generally; health system strengthening, particularly at the Primary Health Care level, and ensuring access to healthcare for Nigerians particularly the poor, thereby contributing to overall national productivity. It is therefore, only pertinent that the resources committed to this course are utilized efficiently and with results to show.
He commended the DG PLASCHEMA, Dr. Fabong for role he is playing in ensuring universal health coverage in the State and how visionary he has been in piloting the affairs of the Agency.
Secretary of Plateau Initiative for the Development of and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), Cmr. Nanle Gujor applauded PLASCHEMA for the confidence it has built in the citizens in accessing health services.
He also commended the DG for the mass awareness campaign and sensitization of the public on the mandate of the agency.
Nigeria Star News 