EKO NEWS
LASG Launches ILERA EKO Provider-Led Enrollment
- ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance provider-led agents’ training targeted at providers is to also institutionalize and professionalize the Social Health Insurance salesmanship in Lagos State.
- Dr. Zamba urged the newly trained provider-led agents under ILERA EKO to take Social Health Insurance to the grassroots, especially the informal sector, which constitutes about 75 per cent of the entire population in the State.
In compliance with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order mandating Social Health Insurance for Lagos residents, the state government has initiated the ILERA EKO provider-led enrollment process.
Eko Hot Blog reports that as part of this effort, 163 provider-led agents from hospitals and community pharmacies have been trained to support the implementation of the program.
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The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, in her welcome address during the ILERA EKO Provider-led enrolment training, held on Tuesday at STO Training Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, said that the training was necessary because Section 5 of the Executive Order states that “All residents and workers in Lagos State who do not possess a valid Social Health Insurance Plan, will be required to register and renew their expired plans before they can access any public or private healthcare facilities in the State”.
Represented by the Coordinator, Regulations, LASHMA, Mr. Tosin Awosika, Dr. Zamba opined that the training, which is the first of its kind, is also aimed at expanding access for Lagos residents to register and enrol on ILERA EKO. She added that the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance provider-led agents’ training targeted at providers is to also institutionalize and professionalize the Social Health Insurance salesmanship in Lagos State.
The Permanent Secretary said, “This innovation which is continuous will unlock the hidden treasure in the business of Social Health Insurance marketing as well as create jobs, wealth and develop enterprise.”
Dr. Zamba urged the newly trained provider-led agents under ILERA EKO to take Social Health Insurance to the grassroots, especially the informal sector, which constitutes about 75 per cent of the entire population in the State.
She said that the hospitals and community pharmacies are closer to the people; therefore, coming on board as enrolment centres will assist LASHMA in ensuring that those at the grassroots have easy access to register and enrol on the Health Insurance Plan.
The Permanent Secretary advised them not to hesitate to register all the customers who visit them but are not yet registered and enrolled under ILERA EKO in accordance with the Executive Order.
She added that they should widen their scope to include schools, firms, religious bodies, and various associations in their communities.
Dr. Zamba noted that anyone who is identified as vulnerable and unable to afford to pay the health insurance premium should be referred to the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) arm of the Agency for registration.
She applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for increasing the Equity Fund for the enrolment of the vulnerable to N3 billion.
The Permanent Secretary also noted that residents who could not afford to pay their premium at once also have the opportunity to pay-small-small through the newly launched ILERA N’TIWA Cooperative and Multi-Purpose Society.
The immediate past Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, in his remarks, appreciated the Lagos State Government for making community pharmacists in the state to be part of the history of UHC.
He advised members of the association currently on the Social Health Insurance Scheme to take their partnership with LASHMA very seriously as this will guarantee a return on investment (ROI) and make their businesses prosperous.
The National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekanma Ezeh thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to the laudable Social Health Insurance Scheme and his passion for ensuring that Lagos residents live healthy lives.
He said that with ILERA EKO, Lagos State has again demonstrated that it is the pacesetter in the country. He urged other States in Nigeria to emulate Lagos State and ensure that everyone, irrespective of their socio-economic status, in their various States, has access to equitable and affordable healthcare services.
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Others at the training included the Chairman, Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), Lagos State, Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh and Immediate Past Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State, Pharm. Gbolagade Iyiola as well as representatives of the Medical Directors from the Hospitals.
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