The Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Akintunde Akindele, has revealed that the agency will commence free enrollment of 19,000 pensioners into Osun Health Insurance Scheme in line with the directive of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Akindele disclosed this on Thursday on the sidelines of the quarterly meeting of the OHIS management and accredited Health Care Providers, held at the Government Secretariat, Abere.
The OHIS boss said registration of the beneficiaries, who are 19,000 in number, would commence immediately while Governor Adeleke would present them their enrollment cards later.
He said, “The governor has given the order that we should enrol all pensioners in the state on the scheme. All of them came out in their large numbers to vote during the election and they deserve to be compensated. It is not even compensation, it is their right because they have a right to good health at that age having served the state for that long.
“In fact, the governor is going to present their identity cards in commemoration of his first-year anniversary celebration. No matter the location, we have hospitals everywhere in Osun State. The number of beneficiaries is 19,000 in all.”
Speaking on the importance of the meeting, Akindele said the Agency is determined to vigorously pursue subscription by informal sector, stating that the present number is very low.
“While I thank you for providing the healthcare and ensuring enrollment, the new task ahead of us is to bring informal sector persons on board. The present statistics shows that we have less 5,000 from that sector which is very low.
“Another unfortunate thing is that Osun is among few states that do not have partners on health insurance. All these have led us to over-dependency on money coming from the government.”
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting with the healthcare providers, Akindele said, “We need to have feedback from them. What are the problems they are encountering and how we can solve the problems, because they say where there is no law, there can’t be crimes.
“If we understand the problems, we can solve the problems together with them. If there are infringements later, then we can now sanction through the means of law.”
