OYSHIA Pushes For Universal Health Coverage, Advocates Equitable Access To Healthcare

Health/Wellness

OYSHIA Pushes For Universal Health Coverage, Advocates Equitable Access To Healthcare

The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has announced its plan to enroll everyone in the scheme and encourages residents to take advantage of the affordable healthcare insurance offered by the government.

Dr Olusola Akande, Executive Secretary of OYSHIA made this known on Tuesday at the Media dialogue with the theme, ‘Changing the narrative on child mortality through health insurance scheme’

The two-day programme organised by OYSHIA in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held in Kakanfo Hotel, Ibadan.

Akande said the initiative is to ensure that all categories of people were brought together equally in the health insurance scheme basket and on the same premium.

According to him, the premium is N13,500 in Oyo State and that is what the rich, and poor including the vulnerable will pay annually to enjoy the facility and health service package.

“What we are pursuing is to get as many people as possible on the health insurance, leaving no one behind on the scheme, including the poor, the rich, the rural and urban dwellers.

The UNICEF health specialist, Ijeoma Agbo said that health insurance facilitates equitable distribution of healthcare resources and added that it also promotes equity by ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible to all persons, irrespective of their socio-economic status or geographical location.

Agbo said that state governments must dedicate a percentage of their consolidated revenue to health insurance schemes to fund premiums for the poor.

The specialist said that the government should invest more in the primary health care system approach that would be affordable to all and benefit packages that include the minimum basic essential health services.

“Health insurance enhances access to a wider range of healthcare services, including promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services.

“Individuals with health insurance are more likely to seek timely medical care, leading to early detection and treatment of illnesses.

“Achieving universal healthcare requires a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, involving government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, the private sector, communities, and the media,” she said.

Agbo also said that inadequate funding, limited awareness about health insurance and its benefits, and infrastructural gaps in health care, among others were some of the challenges of health insurance.