BNSHIA develops operational guidelines for BNSHIS
The Benue State Health Insurance Agency (BNSHIA), has developed operational guidelines for the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme (BNSHIS). These operational guidelines were validated and unanimously adopted by various critical stakeholders at the end of a one day stakeholders meeting held recently in Makurdi at the Precious Event Centre. Presenting a paper titled Overview of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – The Health Insurance Pathway in Benue State, the Executive Secretary, BNSHIA, Dr Kenneth Korve, explained that, UCH ensures that health systems provide both access to health services and financial protection which includes avoiding out-of-pocket payments that reduce affordability of services. According to him, the UHC is expected to cover all population groups together with their families. He stated that for the objectives of UHC to be achieved, Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state will be revitalized, adding that it is for the success of such programmes in the state that the Benue State House of Assembly on 18 October, 2018, passed into law the bill to establish BNSHIA and institute BNSHIS for all residents of the state and for purposes connected therewith.
Stressing the importance of the stakeholders’ meeting, Dr Korve stated that, “It is pertinent for all stakeholders to understand BNSHIA policies and procedures to enable them contribute to the promotion of health insurance in Benue State for safe, effective, high quality and affordable healthcare services for the purpose of achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.”
Presenting the operational guidelines for BNSHIA, the Head, Technical Operations, Dr Isaac Utera, enumerated the scheme’s health plans to include Formal Sector, Informal Sector, Tertiary Institutions, the Vulnerable Group and Complementary Health Plans.
According to him, the scheme has about 21 benefit packages which include Primary Surgery; Primary Internal Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Basic Laboratory Investigations; Pediatrics; Opthalmology; Psychiatry and Physiotherapy among others. Dr Utera explained that the operational guidelines serve as a compass to direct the activities of BNSHIA and its partners. Earlier, in his opening address, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Joseph Ngbea, called for commitment, determination and sincerity of purpose from all stakeholders towards ensuring that the agency moves forward in the eventual roll-out of the scheme for the benefit of Benue people. In his goodwill message, the Benue State Coordinator of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Okoh Christopher Atta, who was represented at the occasion, also assured of the commitment of NHIS to partner with BNSHIA towards ensuring the smooth implementation of it’s policies and programmes, in order to improve the health status of the people. The one day stakeholders’ meeting was attended by representatives of traditional institutions, civil society organizations, faith based organizations, health associations as well as government functionaries.