Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on healthcare service providers to pay attention to patients under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS).
The secretary of the Health and Human Service Secretariat of the FCTA, Dr Abubakar Tafida made the call during the opening session of a two-day engagement with the media on the need to create more awareness of the scheme to residents of the FCT.
He said the channels needed to take the message of health insurance to residents of Abuja should be prioritised to meet the objectives of Universal Health Coverage and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure which has been a major constraint for those living in under-served communities of Abuja and that the FCT Administration will continue to ensure resource management for improved living standards.
Also, the director of the Federal Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), Dr Ahmed Danfulani reiterated the need for all residents of Abuja to key into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme.
Danfulani, who spoke on the overview of Universal Health Coverage, stated that access to healthcare should not be based on the availability of funding.
He emphasised the need for everyone to key into the scheme with a small amount, adding that healthcare services must be made available to all on an equity basis, without subjecting one to danger.
“We are working towards Universal Health Coverage by 2030. The concept of UHC is well embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Part of the benefits of UHC is an increase in life expectancy, reduction in mortality and morbidity rate, increase in total revenue and predictability of revenue for healthcare businesses, hospitals, and pharmacies.
“There are also economic benefits of UHC such as the increase in productivity, creation of business opportunities, reduction in unemployment, and others,” Danfulani said.
The FHIS deputy director of operations, Dr Amina Zakari, said that the agency was determined to achieve UHC in the FCT through the FHIS.
However, she urged residents to access any hospital of their choice, noting that FHIS was present in almost all the hospitals in the FCT and that what is required is just N13,500 annual payments for all accommodated services of the scheme.
