NOA calls for a more Optometry-inclusive Health Insurance System in Nigeria

Managers of the National Health Insurance Scheme have been called upon to enhance the participation of optometrists in the scheme in order to avail Nigerians of some vital eye care services that are unique to the optometric profession but are not currently covered by the scheme. This was contained in a goodwill message by the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) presented at the Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) s 8th mid-year capacity building meeting held recently at NECA Hall, Alausa Ikeja, in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the NOA national president, Dr Damian Echendu, while commending the NHIS for involving the ODORBN and the NOA during the formulation of the 2012 NHIS operational guidelines, and for incorporating Optometry in the scheme, called for further consultation with the Nigerian optometric community to enhance her participation in the scheme. He noted that certain eye care services, unique to optometrists and beneficial to Nigerians, were not currently provided for, promising to submit a memorandum to this effect ahead of a review of the NHIS operational guidelines.

Dr Echendu, who was represented at the event by the national publicity secretary, Dr Raymond Aguboshim, earlier thanked the HCPAN for providing such a veritable platform, noting that HCPAN has a strategic role in the future of efficient health care delivery in Nigeria.

The event, with the theme: Health Insurance in Nigeria: The Journey So Far and the Way Forward, was principally anchored by Dr Okoro Ned, Publicity Secretary, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Lagos state, and had in attendance cross-sectional representation of health care providers from across the federation, especially those based in Lagos state. Notable diginitaries at the programme included Olorugun Dr. Isaac Akpoveta(DMP), Governing Council Chair, Delta State Contributory Health Commission who chaired the occasion, Mr Femi Akingbade, Ag. Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) who was the guest speaker, Dr Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Kolawole Ajao Owoka, MD, United Health International (HMO) and Chairman, Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN, an association of all HMOs in Nigeria), Dr Babatunde Ladele, Executive Director of Clear line International (HMO) Ltd and HMCAN treasurer, Mrs Awwala, Zonal Coordinator (West), NHIS, Dr Leke Pitan, former commissioner for Health, and Education in Lagos state, Mrs Esther Ayorinde, the life matron of HCPAN.

In attendance also was a high-powered representation from the Nigerian optometric community, with the NOA Lagos chapter Chair, Dr Ogechi Nwokedi, FNCO,Drs Raymond Aguboshim (NOA national publicity secretary), Adedayo Olympio (former NOA vice president, west), and Ngozi Akpokene, CEO, Flomat Eye Clinic among a fourteen (14) man delegation. An optometrist, Dr Priscilia Imade, national assistant secretary of HCPAN and a member of the organising committee, was also on hand to receive her professional colleagues.

In his welcome address, HCPAN national president, Dr Umar Oluwole Sanda, thanked all attendees, urging for cooperation among health care providers in order to realize the dreams of better health for Nigerians. Making reference to the theme of the programme, Dr Umar highlighted several issues cogging the wheels of the NHIS, informing his audience that a position paper on these issues is currently in the works. He went further to query federal governments plan to build 10,000 new primary health care facilities, instead of making existing ones optimally functional and working out innovative modalities for private sector engagement to argument the shortfalls.

Chairman of the occasion, Olorugun (Dr) Isaac Akpoveta, commended HCPAN for the great work it has been doing since her rebirth in 2014, recalling (as a former president of the association)how the organization was formed in 2003 and held her first AGM in 2004 at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja. For governments current effort in the health system to be robust from its base to its pyramid, Olorugun Akpoveta charged the government to ensure that its planned public-private-partnership model is followed to the letter, urging that care should be taken to avoid the man-made pitfalls that hindered previous well-conceived programmes.

The Lagos state commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris, remarked that current health service delivery plans of the state government take into account both public and private sector participation. This, he explained, was the principle behind the Advocacy Session it held with the HCPAN Lagos chapter, on 14th of June, 2016, at the state secretariat. Giving current statistics of health care facilities within the states jurisdiction as one tertiary, 26 secondary, 274 primary, and 3100 privately-owned healthcare facilities, Dr Idris, represented at the occasion by Dr Bukola Ayinla, also announced that the sum of 25 billion naira has been earmarked by the state government for SMEs (including health care providers, to access and utilize in developing their facilities for efficiency.

NHIS general manager, ICT, Prince Nasiru Ikharo, who stood in for the NHIS executive secretary, presented a lecture on the conference theme, giving a historical and operational overview of the NHIS. Highlighting the key priniciples of the scheme as Social Inclusiveness, Equity, Efficiency, and Quality, Prince Nasiru also provided details on some of the pressing challenges being encountered in the scheme, and current efforts being employed to mitigate these. Making numerous references to the Delta state example, Prince Ikharo charged states to give the Informal Sector Health Insurance Scheme the needed impetus to succeed saying it hold a win-win potential for all stakeholders.

An interactive session availed attendees the opportunity of getting satisfactory answers to some of the questions directed at the NHIS.

Source: NOA Public Relations and Publicity Centre