Abuja – The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) on Wednesday pledged to support Federal Government policies and programmes in providing quality and affordable healthcare service to Nigerians.
Dr Kolawole Owoka, the Chairman of the association, made the promise while fielding questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
He said HMCAN was collaborating with the federal government to ensure that all policies and programmes delivered to Nigerians conform to the minimum global quality standards.
“The Minister of Health said the ministry will be focusing on the primary health care by building and refurbishing one health centre facilities per ward in the country.
“Our organisation has decided to collaborate with the federal government to make suggestions towards providing quality contributions on what is obtainable in the developed world,’’ he said.
Owoka, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of United Health Care organisation, said that the association was keen on ensuring that all registered healthcare insurance users are aware of their rights and benefits in the health insurance scheme.
He said only the federal government has the right to make policies, adding that HMCAN could only make suggestions on key components that would move the country forward.
“The association has always been eager to make sure it has a good impact on the average Nigerian as members of the association are not the policy makers.
“The ministry of health and the federal government are still the policy makers and our duty is to make suggestions to move the country forward healthwise,’’ he said.
Contributing, Mr Lekan Ewenla, Chairman, Publicity Committee of HMCAN, noted that most Nigerians were not aware of the rights and benefits inherent in the health insurance scheme.
Ewenla, who is also the Managing Director of Ultimate Health Management Services, said the association was collaborating with the federal government to embark on a strategic public awareness campaign across the country.
Besides, he said the organisation would also be partnering with the federal ministry of health to raise media campaign on sensitisation of NHIS enrolees on their rights and entitlements.
“We have decided to talk more on the rights and benefits of enrolees in Nigeria and we have decided to partner with the ministry of health who has a structured media campaign to enhance it.
“We have also permanently established a health insurance page on a weekly basis to report all health insurance reports, with the print newspapers, the electronic media and the radio stations for a wider coverage,’’ he said. (NAN)