By Felicia Imohimi
Abuja – The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT chapter has appealed to all tiers of government to include market women, security men and artisans in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to reduce financial burden.
Dr Michael Olarewaju, the President of the association made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate its health week tagged; “Universal Health Coverage, Are we there yet?
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NHIS, established in 2004 to provide quality and affordable access to health care, has the statutory responsibility to ensure everyone is enrolled in the scheme, irrespective of status.
Olarewaju explained that health insurance coverage for this group of the society would boost health indices, as well as ensure that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was achieved.
“The essence of UHC is to ensure affordable, accessible and quality health care for the populace irrespective of status or financial back ground.
“We affirm that UHC is key to ensuring equitable access to high quality, affordable health care for all Nigerians. But if this group of people are left out of NHIS, there is no way we can achieve UHC.’’
He decried the huge amount of money being expended by this group of people in trying to access healthcare, which had caused great hardship to them.
According to him, many of them find it difficult getting money to meet their health challenges, while others have to source for funds through any available means as the case may be.
He, however, described their enrolment in the scheme as a key factor toward the realisation of UHC, adding that the progress of any nation was determined by the quality of health of its citizens.
According to him, if the populace yet to be covered contributes the N2,000 monthly as stipulated by the scheme, they will not experience financial challenge with regard to health care in the event of any catastrophe.
Olarewaju lamented that only five per cent of Nigerians had so far been covered by the scheme, while 95 were yet to enroll.
According to him, majority of the people covered are federal civil servants, adding that except for FCT, most states are yet to implement the scheme.
“Artisans, security men on the streets, vulcanizers, and market women among others are not enrolled on NHIS, so if anything happened to them, they still have to source for money to meet or pay for their healthcare needs or challenges.
“This is not healthy for the nation in terms of development and others.
“Healthy citizens are productive. They work, earn, save and contribute to economic growth. UHC will catalyse a robust healthcare market that will create many jobs for Nigerian people within the public and private sectors,’’ he said.
Speaking on the week theme, Olarewaju said it was informed by the poor health indices and the slow progress recorded by the country in attaining UHC in spite of the commitment shown in the 2014 Presidential Summit Declaration.
“As an association, we believe that UHC is achievable hence we are trying to sensitise the public to increase awareness about it,’’ he said.
Olarewaju commended FCT administration for opening more District Hospitals and unveiling its Health Services Scheme (FHSS) in its bid to deliver quality and affordable health care services to residents.
According to him, these are steps geared toward facilitating the implementation of UHC. (NAN)
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