Officials launch first local health insurance program in Plateau
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Central Nigeria: Officials in Plateau State on Tuesday launched a special health insurance program to provide “quality and timely” healthcare to internally displaced persons in the State.
The “Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA)” will also benefit the elderly, children, orphaned and vulnerable children, pregnant women and people living with disabilities, the State Governor, Simon Lalong said.
The State is currently constructing six hospitals to provide “qualitative, preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative healthcare” said the Governor.
However, poor access, according to Lalong, “particularly by the poor and vulnerable persons who are at the bottom of the social ladder” necessitated the new health program toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The scheme was established after consultations 79 stakeholders including Sustainable Development Goals, National Health Insurance Scheme, and State Universal Basic Education Board, said PLASCHEMA Director General, Dr. Fabong Jemchang.
Citizens in both formal and informal sectors would enrol through a remote online recruitment process that takes 120 seconds to complete, he said.
The state Governor, Simon Lalong, his Deputy, Sonni Tyoden and other officials were first to be enrolled during the launch, and their identity cards printed and issued immediately.
The model, Dr. Jemchang said was first in the country.
