In furtherance of healthcare delivery for its staff, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have concluded its strategic partnership through its recently held sensitization workshop for NHIS desk officers in all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The workshop which held in Abuja, has its theme: Benefit Package for Public/Civil Servants under the National Health Insurance Scheme, was ignited by OHCSF concern by ensuring that they have access to quality service healthcare delivery from health care providers.
In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, who was represented by the Director Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Mrs. Titilayo Agbeyo, expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Sambo for the collaboration.
Onwudiwe, noted that the NHIS is one of the welfare packages designed to enable all civil servants and their families have access to medical facilities at minimal cost.
According to her, OHCSF is complementing the efforts of NHIS, by taking up responsibility of medical assistance and welfare package of civil servants in line with Public Service Rule (PSR) 070201 for ailments that are not covered by the NHIS.
“It is therefore important that the NHIS desk officers are well informed and upgraded on reviewed time lines on developed programmes and packages by the NHIS to guide them in discharging their duties” she stated.
She said the programme will provide participants with the necessary information on the implementation of the scheme to enhance their knowledge and take advantage of available packages to improve their health status.
It will also equip the desk officers with the requisite skill needed to effectively deliver on their schedule. Questions asked will address some gaps in the implementation of the scheme, Onwudiwe added.
In a remark, who Sambo, represented by the General Manager, Formal Sector Department, in NHIS Dr. Eke Jonathan, said the mandate of NHIS is to achieve universal health coverage for all Nigerians but over the years the scheme has been faced with a lot of challenges.
He noted that the NHIS law was the last thing the then President General Abdulsalam Abubakar signed into law on May 29th 1999. He also added that President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 launched the formal sector project to ensure that every enrolee on the NHIS scheme gets access to adequate health care.
“Over the years we realised that it will be difficult to get everyone covered on the NHIS scheme because the Act doesn’t make it mandatory for everyone to enrol and poverty is also another factor…but the agency is working to correct this anomaly”. He added.
Sambo said that the agency had introduced some reforms to change the narrative. One of which if GIFSHIP health insurance taken up or paid for by individuals, families and groups not covered by the NHIS.
Three papers were presented at the workshop: Overview of the NHIS Formal Sector Programmes, NHIS Benefits Package, Enrolee Rights and Privileges
In her vote of thanks, the Deputy Director Health Safety and Environment in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Deborah Odoh noted that the workshop was an eye-opener to some of the hitches faced by desk officers and civil servants, while thanking participants for sharing their thoughts. She hoped that the workshop had enlightened MDAs on the need to support the NHIS.
The statement was signed by Akinwumi Taiwo Olufunke, for: Director Press and Public Relations, OHCSF.