Kwara health insurance agency partners PharmAccess to deliver IsDB-funded health scheme
With a view to efficiently implement the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) funded health scheme known as Transform and Innovation Project, the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KSHIA), and PharmAccess Foundation have partnered to meet the yearning for increased healthcare service delivery in the state.
Describing the initiative as one that would improve the working of the public-private partnership in building Nigeria’s health sector, Njide Ndili, country director, PharmAccess Foundation, said that the success of the scheme will require resource mobilization both locally and internationally. Hence, he called for other stakeholders and partners to synergize in accelerating achievement of universal health coverage, especially for poor and less privileged Nigerians.
The innovative project, which focuses on facilitating and complementing the efforts of the state government to scale up access to affordable and quality basic healthcare services for all residents of the state, across the 16 local government areas, looks towards a sustainable business case for universal health coverage in Nigeria.
Emeka Ajanwachuku, director, health plans and digital innovations, PharmAccess Foundation, noted that following the cardinal role of universal health coverage, measures to improve access to affordable quality healthcare cannot be over-emphasized.
“Improving access to affordable quality healthcare is essential to attaining the Universal Health Coverage agenda, and the IsDB grant provides the needed platform to accelerate the programme’s reach in an innovative manner.
“Since the relaunch of the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme in the last quarter of 2020, over 300,000 people have been registered, of which over 26,000 people are active with the 60 accredited and empanelled healthcare providers enlisted in the scheme. The Islamic Development Bank grant is another critical leverage for the agency to rapidly scale and attain universal health coverage.
“We are enthusiastic that more of these strategic partnerships and interventions would be received to support the implementation of the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme,” Ajanwachuku added.
Expressing optimism that the project will be all-inclusive of indigent people across the local governments, Jetawo Winter said the project will also fast-track enrollment of more indigent people into the scheme, which would also afford them the opportunity to have access to quality health care services.
He said: “The impressive funding support and goodwill the scheme is receiving revolves around the political will and the passion of our governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is making efforts at ensuring that the Kwara populace, more than ever before, have unlimited access to healthcare services, through the initial investment of the state government in a sustainable social health insurance scheme for its people.”