Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday announced the approval of a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund targeted at expanding and modernising healthcare facilities across the state, declaring that access to quality healthcare must not be determined by a citizen’s economic status.
He disclosed this at the maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure where policymakers, health insurance managers, development partners and government officials from across the country, stakeholders deliberated on strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) amid prevailing economic pressures.
Speaking on the theme, “Economic Realities and the Universal Health Coverage Dream: Mobilising States for Scalable Health Insurance,” Governor Aiyedatiwa said the debate around healthcare financing had become more urgent due to inflationary pressures and worsening economic conditions affecting households nationwide.
Aiyedatiwa who noted that financial constraints often force families to delay seeking medical attention until conditions become severe and costlier to treat, stressed that social health insurance remains a critical instrument for shielding citizens from catastrophic health expenditure and ensuring equitable access to care irrespective of income.
He said his administration had prioritised healthcare through the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), which continues to expand insurance coverage and improve service delivery across the state.
The governor also noted the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund programme, under which vulnerable residents across all 203 political wards in the 18 local government areas have been enrolled into health insurance schemes.
He therefore announced the formal inclusion of retirees into the Orange Health Insurance Scheme, with the state government assuming full financial responsibility for their enrolment.
He explained that the fund, separate from routine health expenditure, was designed to enhance hospital capacity and improve service delivery.
Governor Aiyedatiwa urged State Social Health Insurance Agencies nationwide to sustain reforms aimed at improving access to affordable healthcare.
In his welcome address, Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, said the summit would enable chief executives of SSHIAs to share experiences, align strategies with the National Health Insurance Authority and adopt sustainable financing models.
Also speaking, Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr Oyebanji Filani, commended Ondo State for recording the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria.
He said data from the National Demographic and Health Survey showed neonatal mortality at three per 1,000 live births and infant mortality at eight per 1,000.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Social Health Insurance Agencies and Director-General of the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Kabir Mustapha, described the summit as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards universal health coverage.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said rising out-of-pocket expenditure continued to expose Nigerians to financial hardship.
He noted that over 90 per cent of Nigerians remained outside the formal insurance system, stressing that universal health coverage was essential to protecting citizens from medical poverty.
Fidelis David in Akure
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