Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has disclosed that the recently introduced health insurance scheme is compulsory for all residents of the state, assuring that funds realized from the N50bn endowment will be judiciously utilized and well accounted for in line with the administration’s tradition of prudence, transparency and accountability.
The governor said that the N650 monthly subscription fee for health insurance would be deducted from the salaries of workers in the state, stressing that the workers of state’s contractors will also be mandated to subscribe to the scheme.
Governor Ajimobi made these disclosures at the official launch of the N50 billion HealthCare Endowment Fund, which attracted donations and pledges from international organisations, private sectors, government functionaries, traditional rulers and eminent personalities, for the restoration and transformation of government hospitals and health centres in the state held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan.
He said “the recently introduced Health Care Insurance Scheme is a move in this direction. Our target is the active participation of all and sundry in the development, management and funding of Health Care Services. While I heartily appreciate the high level of subscription already recorded, I wish to enjoin all those who are yet to register to go forth now to enjoy the benefits.”
The governor explained that there are growing examples in Nigeria where private sector involvement in healthcare delivery is helping in no small measure to complement government’s efforts in the provision of efficient and sustainable healthcare services, noting that as individuals and corporate bodies, everyone should give back to the system part of what the system has given to us.
Governor Ajimobi stated that private sector involvement in healthcare dates back to 1883 when compulsory sickness insurance was introduced in Germany for some categories of workers. Pointing out that this marked the establishment of the first model of mandatory healthcare insurance in the Western world.
