September 14, 2022
The Lagos State Government has said that it would not hesitate to sanction any of the ILERA EKO healthcare providers that run foul of the existing healthcare practices and standards.
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuela Zamba, disclosed this recently at Alausa, Ikeja, adding that the Agency has been inundated with complaints received from enrollees on healthcare providers.
She stated that Lagos is doing its best to ensure that affordable and quality healthcare is provided to residents of the State, saying “We cannot fold our arms and allow some providers to destroy the good intention of the State Government and its determination to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”.
Dr. Zamba noted that the complaints received from enrollees include hospitals not giving drugs, not admitting patients, not carrying out tests and collecting money from patients on some of the drugs or tests covered among others, adding that the Agency would not hesitate to deal decisively with any hospital giving the State Government a bad name or any hospital whose staff treat ILERA EKO enrollees with levity.
She, however, commended some service providers for performing creditably well and taking care of ILERA EKO enrollees even beyond and above expectations, declaring that the Agency would ensure that quality healthcare is provided for all Lagos residents as healthy individuals would be more productive and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the State.
While pointing out that not all medical conditions are covered by ILERA EKO, the General Manager warned that no enrollee should pay for the treatment/test covered under the scheme including consultation, laboratory tests, minor surgeries and admissions for 15 days in a year.
Dr. Zamba reiterated that the new National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2022 has made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians, appealing to Lagos residents yet to enrol on the health plan to do so without further delay in adherence to the law and to reduce their out-of-pocket payment for medical bills.
The General Manager said that intending enrollees can register either at the LASHMA Head Office situated at No 17, Kafi Street, Alausa or at any of the LASHMA five IBILE offices covering Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe Divisions or ILERA EKO kiosks located in all the LGAs/LCDAs in the State.
Zamba revealed, however, that despite the recent complaints by a hand full of enrollees, a lot of people have benefitted from the health insurance plan and several testimonies, as well as commendations, have been received by LASHMA.
The General Manager said that to date, about 623,000 Lagos residents have already registered on the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan, covering 250 Public and Private Hospitals, under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS).
