Lagos, agency begin health insurance campaign

By Zika Bobby

Experts within the Nigeria healthcare industry have lauded the ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance plan and virtual booths (Vbooths) recently launched by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA).

Speaking during the launch of the projects in Lagos, LASHMA Permanent Secretary, Emmanuella Zamba, described the schemes as high-impact initiatives that will deepen access to quality and affordable healthcare in the state.

She said the state government, working through the agency, was making concerted efforts at repositioning healthcare delivery in the state  “Innovation and technology are key cornerstones of LASHMA’s revolution to provide inclusive healthcare for all Lagos residents through its comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage plans.  “The new Standard Jaara Plan is an upgrade of our former flagship Standard Plan which remains the most competitively priced plan within the category in the market.

“ Additional benefits included in the upgrade are cancer treatment of up to N5 million, expanded surgical procedures as well as increased access to expert medical consultations.

“An additional feature of Standard Jaara is the integration of telemedicine services which subscribers can access through their smart or feature phones or through the VBooths, which are walk-in medical booths situated in major community markets across Lagos.

“VBooth is the first state-owned and managed telemedicine service in Nigeria, and the idea behind it is to deepen access to basic and emergency healthcare for all Lagos residents. “Subscribers on the plan can also undergo basic health checks and consultations, as well as hold teleconferences with doctors right inside the booths,” she said.

Stressing that both initiatives were the outcomes of extensive surveys, feedback and a response to the disease burden in the state, Zamba said 300 VBooths would be installed across key community markets and motor parks in the state.

Currently, five communities have benefitted from the initiative, namely, Adamo and Sabo markets, both in Ikorodu; Ayetoro Market in Epe, Sabo Market in Yaba and Ketu Bus Stop.