Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) has disclosed that retirees in the state and 277,862 others are among those already captured in the state contributory healthcare scheme.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Agabus Manasseh, disclosed this at the Media Interface with the theme: “Media: A Tool for Sustainable Development” (Health Insurance), organised by the organisation on Monday in Jos, Plateau State capital.
Manasseh explained that the gesture of including retirees was aimed at making life easier and cheaper for the poor and vulnerable population to enjoy affordable healthcare services in the state.
He disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang has approved payment of the backlog of counterpart funds to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to the tune of 327 million naira by the government targeted at retirees for health delivery.
According to him, the funds were deployed to pay premiums (purchase healthcare) for the poor and vulnerable individuals across the state.
“Our partnership with Christian AID, Women and Children in Support of Community Initiatives (WOCCI) through advocacy and sensitization in targeted areas of Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local governments resulted in increased uptake of health insurance.
“As at June 2023, the Agency was in arrears of 5 months capitation and fee-for-service. We cleared the backlog and are now up to date in payment of capitation and fee-for-service for facilities and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).
He added that the agency in collaboration with the PLASCHEMA local partners, Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS), a house-to-house verification of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund beneficiaries was carried out in the Northern zone.
“Total current enrollment: 277,862. With present facilities; 523. Also, the 17 LGs are expected to pay N10m each totaling N170m.”
“As a follow-up to the house-to-house verification, a realignment, reallocation and re-enrolment exercise was carried out in the Northern zone.
“The whole exercise was aimed at increasing service utilization and also expunging the names of beneficiaries who have moved on or are dead,” he declared.
In her closing remarks, the Director of Marketing and Business Development, PLASCHEMA, Mrs Theresa Gofwen, commended journalists for their partnership with the agency and contributions to the establishment.
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