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By Doris Obinna
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in preparation for the enforcement of the Executive Order (EO) on mandatory social health insurance in hospitals, has commenced a statewide facilities readiness assessment in all Ilera Eko empanelled hospitals.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, at Alausa, Ikeja, said that the facilities readiness assessment, which commenced with public health facilities in the state under the scheme—General Hospitals (GHs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs)—as well as Ilera Eko private hospitals with high footfall, is a baseline exercise that will determine a renewed push to strengthen enforcement of the Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance across Lagos State.
She said that the compliance check, which will be extended to other private facilities under the scheme, is also to determine the readiness of hospitals to ensure that those who do not have Ilera Eko can be easily registered and enrolled when they visit. The vulnerable would also be identified, profiled, and registered to enable them access quality and equitable healthcare services like premium-paying enrollees.
“This compliance assessment is a vital step towards ensuring that healthcare facilities are fully ready for the Executive Order implementation and enforcement, evaluate compliance across key indicators, identify gaps and areas for improvement, enforce standards and operational guidelines of Ilera Eko Health Insurance Plan,” she said.
According to her, hospitals under Ilera Eko are expected, among others, to have a focal person for Executive Order implementation, designated trained staff to serve as Ilera Eko and vulnerable desk officers, a vulnerable screening tool, working tools, a complaint escalation procedure, clear directional signage, an Ilera Eko tab on their websites, and a duty roster to ensure that staff are available at all times.
Zamba further explained that the initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), where all residents can access needed healthcare services without stress or financial hardship. She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding quality, accessibility, and efficiency in healthcare service delivery, adding that continuous monitoring remains key to sustaining gains recorded under the scheme.
The Permanent Secretary reiterated that LASHMA is committed to working closely with healthcare providers and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of mandatory health insurance in hospitals and to improve health outcomes for residents in the state.
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She urged residents who are yet to enrol in the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Plan to take advantage of the programme, which offers comprehensive and affordable healthcare services across the state. According to her, Ilera Eko covers over 75 per cent of the reasons Lagos residents visit hospitals.
Zamba further disclosed that the agency is engaging with the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Lagos State chapter, to facilitate the onboarding of more non-empanelled private facilities into the scheme, especially as LASHMA intensifies enforcement of the Executive Order.
In their separate remarks, the Medical Directors of Agbowa and Imota General Hospitals, Dr Kayode Grillo and Dr Adenike Omosun, commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for being the first governor in the country to sign an Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance, describing the move as a transformative intervention that has significantly expanded access to healthcare services at the grassroots.
They appreciated LASHMA for its sustained support and several innovations, noting that the ongoing facilities assessment exercise would further strengthen service delivery standards across hospitals under Ilera Eko.
The medical directors also reaffirmed their readiness to comply fully with the provisions of the Executive Order, pledging collaboration with the agency to ensure seamless and successful implementation.
Similarly, the Medical Director of Haruna Ogun Memorial Specialist Hospital, Ikorodu, Prof Yomi Ogun, appreciated LASHMA for its dedication to ensuring that all residents in the state have access to affordable, quality, and equitable healthcare services. He promised that the hospital would continue to cooperate with the state government and LASHMA in ensuring better service delivery to Ilera Eko enrollees.
LASHMA currently has 765 providers under Ilera Eko, comprising Federal Medical Centres in the state, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), General Hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), PHCs under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), private hospitals and nursing homes. Others include eye hospitals, dental care hospitals, diagnostic centres, and community pharmacies.
