Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged critical stakeholders in the State health insurance value chain to partner and cooperate with the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to domesticate the National Health Insurance Authority Act of May, 2022 and also ensure compliance with the provision of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) law.
Sanwo-Olu made the appealat the maiden Lagos State Health Insurance Summit, noting that the support of all stakeholders will enable the State Government to guarantee the provision of basic healthcare services to citizens.
“At the inception of this administration, we made a commitment to improve the quality of life of our people and steer the State towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), where Lagosians will have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.
“These services include a full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. This is one of the major goals of the health and environment pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, with the ‘plus’ representing the incorporation of an intensified focus on social inclusion, gender equality and youth development in these next four years,” he said.
The stakeholders include health management organizations (HMOs), health care providers, corporate organizations, health insurance coverage providers, policy makers and employers of labour and employees.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Sanwo-Olu said his administration rode on the existing LSHS law to bring the promise of UHC to reality.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Emmanuel Zamba insisted that the implementation of a social health insurance programme does not stifles nor represses the private health insurance space as they both complement each other.
She said, “we are allies working towards a common purpose; providing accessible, efficient, and high-quality healthcare to all residents of our dear State. Together, we can create a healthcare system that leaves no one behind and reflects the compassion and strength of our great nation.”
She recalled, LASHMA over the past three years “has tirelessly and intentionally worked in creating enduring structures, operationalizing the social health plan’s implementation, exploring innovative strategies and initiatives in advancing the cause of UHC.
“Concerted efforts have been made to increase coverage, while leveraging on technology and partnerships, which we thankfully enjoy a preponderance of. Certainly, we wouldn’t have made these strides and come this far without the support of Sanwo-Olu for which we sincerely thank and appreciate him.”
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
