Universal health coverage: UNICEF asks states to increase investment in insurance scheme

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says state governments should earmark a percentage of their consolidated revenue to health insurance scheme to fund premiums for the poor.

Ijeoma Agbo, UNICEF health specialist, spoke in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Tuesday at a two-day media dialogue with the theme “Changing the narrative on child mortality through health insurance”.

The programme was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Oyo state health insurance scheme (OYSHIA).

Agbo said health insurance facilitates equitable distribution of healthcare resources and brings financial protection by reducing the burden of out-of-pocket expenses on individuals and families.

The specialist said government should invest more in the primary healthcare system that would be affordable to all.

“Health insurance enhances access to a wider range of healthcare services, including promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services,” NAN quoted Agbo as saying.

“Individuals with health insurance are more likely to seek timely medical care, leading to early detection and treatment of illnesses.

“Achieving universal healthcare requires a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, involving government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, the private sector, communities and the media.”

Agbo said inadequate funding, limited awareness about health insurance and its benefits, infrastructural gaps in healthcare, among others were some of the challenges of the scheme.

Olusola Akande, the executive secretary of OYSHIA, said the state government had declared its intention to enrol everyone into the scheme.

Akande said the initiative is to ensure that all categories of people are brought together to have access to the health insurance scheme.

He said the state government had committed more than N1 billion to the scheme, adding that the premium package for the health insurance is N13,500.

“What we are pursuing is to get as many people as possible on the health insurance and leaving no one behind, including the poor, the rich, the rural and urban dwellers,” Akande said.