Adamawa, Pharmaccess Partner to Implement Health Insurance Scheme

Martins Ifijeh

Adamawa has joined the league of states in Nigeria to commence the implementation of a State-wide Mandatory Health Insurance scheme in an effort to achieve universal health coverage and promote access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

This followed an agreement signed in Yola by the State Ministry of Health and PharmAccess Foundation for PharmAccess to lead the technical development process for the state-wide health insurance scheme.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fatima Abubakar presented the contract document to PharmAccess’ Director of Advocacy and Communications, Dr. Olamide Okulaja who represented the Foundation’s Country Director, Mrs. Njide Ndili.

The commissioner said the partnership with PharmAccess is a demonstration of the state’s renewed commitment to investing in the health sector in order to “reduce the financial burden on the people of Adamawa as they seek access to quality healthcare and pursue productive and healthy lives.”

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Garba Ahmed said “everyone knows how expensive it is for people to access health, so we have to think outside the box and see the extent to which we can support people, especially those less fortunate in our society so that they can be able to access good healthcare.”

Ndili, who sent her goodwill message said, “PharmAccess is excited to support Adamawa State towards universal health coverage, and will deploy best practices from our experiences and lessons learnt in supporting other states to leapfrog and expedite the process. It is remarkable that the state government is taking ownership and eager to provide health coverage to their citizens.”

“PharmAccess’s technical support will help the state implement the scheme pivoted on technology that will deliver quality healthcare services to not only people who can afford healthcare in Adamawa but to the poorest of the society because health is wealth,” said Okulaja in his own remarks.