By Aderogba George
The Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), on Wednesday in Abuja says many Nigerians are yet to be aware of the provision of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Dr Grace Otokpa, Chairman of the association, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) branch, made this known at the opening ceremony of the
2024 Annual General Meeting /Scientific Conference of the association.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the AGM is “Beyond strategy and goals: Reaching the unreached with optimal health care in the current national realities.
Otokpa called for urgent action with a robust information for the people about the provision of the NHIS and make everyone to be carried along.
She stated that most Nigerians who were aware of the scheme found it difficult to afford the bill, while calling on government to further do all it could and make healthcare affordable for all.
“With the changing tides times and current economic realities, health care has become more elusive to the teaming populace.
“This has made health care more expensive and unaffordable to many. Many who present to the hospitals come as a last resort when even medical interventions cannot salvage with attendant morbidity and mortality.
“Those that manage to present early to the hospitals cannot afford the high cost of drugs as a result of inflation.
“It has become imperative that we the health care providers seek ways and avenues to help ameliorate some of these challenges faced by our patients. This health insurance scheme is a leeway,” she lamented.
She disclosed that the association donated 10 industrial waste bin to UATH community, as part of the association Corporate Society Responsibility to keep the environment clean.
Otokpa stated that the association had witnessed tremendous achievement in the last one year, adding that the achievement would not have been possible without support of the outgoing executive 2022 to 2024.
The Vice Chairman, Dr Anthony Bawa said the theme of the 2024 AGM of the association was apt, adding that it was carefully selected to awakening the medical workers to their role of been a voice for the unreached.
Bawa, who is also the Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the AGM stated that the hike in the price of everything particularly the cost of medical care was becoming unbearable and getting out of reach of the masses.
“The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seems to be the only sustainable practical remedy.
‘Civil servants in service are enjoying the benefits of the NHIA, however a vast majority of the people that are not civil servants and are not under this cover are dying under the huge weight of medical bills.
“Most of them are not aware of the succor the NHIA carries. Also, a lot of our health workers most especially, non civil servants are not so much informed about this scheme designed to bring relief and succour to them,” he said. (NAN)