Bayelsa State Government has inaugurated the State Health Insurance Policy Development Committee with a mandate to articulate a comprehensive health insurance scheme for its citizens.
Inaugurating the committee on Monday in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson also urged them to determine the scope of health services to be covered by the scheme as well as terms and conditions for subscription by prospective subscribers.
Governor Dickson, who said the health insurance scheme is mainly targeted at the Public Servants, noted that the decision was taken in their best interest.
In his words: "Let me assure you the civil servants of Bayelsa State that from the decisions we have taken, you will soon find out that they are ultimately in your best interest. We are coming up with robust policies that will cater for most of your needs and make life and living easier and lighter for you.
"What we have done here today by instituting this health insurance policy is just one of many policies. We have talked about investing more in public housing and transportation specifically targeted at the public service."
According to the Governor, Civil Servants stand to benefit as they are to pay minimal subscription and solicited their understanding and support for the scheme.
The Governor, who said the Health Insurance Policy would be extended to non-government workers, however pointed out that they are at liberty to subscribe to it, and are expected to pay higher premium.
To guarantee its sustainability, Hon. Dickson stated that an Executive Bill based on the outcome of the committee's findings, would be forwarded to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to provide legal backing for the scheme.
The State Chief Executive explained that government has acquired a major stake in a publicly quoted insurance firm to run the scheme in collaboration with the state government.
To check the syndrome of fake drugs in hospitals, Governor Dickson stressed that, when the scheme becomes operational, drugs and other medical consumable would be procured centrally from a government pharmaceutical facility which is under construction at the Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital.
500 million naira had earlier been earmarked by the state government to kick-start the insurance policy.
Responding, chairman of the committee, Dr. Markson Amaigbe noted that the scheme as conceptualized by government would go a long way in improving the health care system in the state.
Dr. Amaigbe who expressed gratitude to Governor Dickson for giving them the opportunity to serve, emphasized the need to depend on already existing government facilities such as Diete Koki, Melford Okilo and the Niger Delta Teaching hospitals to execute the scheme.
The committee, which has Dr. Waltraud Eseimokumo as vice chairman and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health as secretary, is expected to submit its report within 2 weeks.
Via: Bayelsa State Government - Official Press Release
The Governor is working really hard to please his indigens. That's what a good governor has to do
This state is work in progress. I love the positive news i'm getting so far. They should continue
We hope to see this in more states in Nigeria. That would make this country a better place