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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Folasade Yemi-Esan, has called upon Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria to take proactive measures in providing high-quality healthcare services to Civil Servants.
Yemi-Esan made the statement during a one-day Interactive Session with HMOs held on August 8th, 2023 in Abuja. The purpose of the session was to discuss ways to reduce the morbidity rate among Civil Servants by improving access to affordable and quality healthcare.
The Director of Communications, Mohammed Ahmed, a statement issued detailing the discussions that took place during the session, said represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mahmud Kambari, Yemi-Esan emphasised the need for HMOs to collaborate with the Civil Service in implementing regular medical check-ups and providing comprehensive healthcare services. He also inquired about the well-being of retirees under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the number of Civil Servants benefiting from the NHIS on a monthly basis.
Additionally, she requested that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) ensure that HMOs are visible and accessible to Civil Servants, highlighting a lack of awareness among enrollees regarding their HMOs.
She further urged the NHIA to empower HMOs with more responsibilities so that they can address issues faced by enrollees independently.
During the session, the Director of Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (OHSE)-OHCSF, Dr. Comfort Adeosun, delivered a welcome address. She emphasised the collaborative nature of the session and the theme, which focused on promoting a healthy and productive workforce.
Adeosun stressed the need for synergy between
HMOs and the OHCSF, stating that the interactive session provided an opportunity for all three parties involved—the Civil Servants, represented by the OHCSF; the HMOs; and the NHIA—to share thoughts, address challenges, and identify ways to improve healthcare delivery for Civil Servants.
The session featured three presentations. Dr. Kapoona Eteng, representing the NHIA, spoke about the roles and responsibilities of HMOs towards enrollees under the 2022 Act of the NHIA.
Dr. Kemi Lawson discussed the importance of routine medical check-ups in reducing morbidity. The final presentation, “Raising the Bar in Health Insurance Experience in Nigeria,” was delivered by Dr. Gideon Anumba of Leadway Insurance Company Limited. Anumba emphasized the use of technology to enhance efficiency in healthcare services.
Several key issues were addressed during the session, including the lack of sufficient data for HMOs, inadequate funding, insufficient client relationship from healthcare providers, non-uniformity of software, and the non-regulation of healthcare facilities regarding the type of care to provide (primary, secondary, and tertiary).
The NHIA was assigned various pending issues for further attention, all in the interest of the workers. Participants praised the Office for its proactive approach to ensuring high-quality health services, as this ultimately leads to a healthy and productive workforce.
The Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, who participated in the session from start to finish, emphasized the significance of the meeting to the OHCSF and the entire Civil Service. A communique summarizing the discussions of the session will be issued at a later date.
