Health Matters: Osun Health Insurance Scheme And The Roles Of Stakeholders

FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

Even before the suspended proposed strike by the organised Labour and private sector, the health sector in the State of Osun has experienced some troubles which had raised concern amongst the population, but now there is succor.

The health system in the state, starting from the tertiary level – Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), the secondary level – the 9 State Hospitals and Comprehensive Health Care (CHC) centres and the primary level – the 332 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres had suffered one form of challenge or the other.

The state government has tried its utmost best to solve the problems which included workers welfare and in this category falls the welfare of medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, community health workers and other allied workers, shortfall of drugs and medical equipment, absence of essential services and others.

In the PHCs, the government has continued to supply drugs and essential services, training and even recruitment of new staff while in the CHCs and tertiary levels, same has continued.

Despite the provision of all these, problems have continued to plague these health institutions and it seems from the outlook, that there is no solution until a solution presented itself.

On inception, the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola introduced free health services for the aged, pregnant and nursing mothers and children but despite all these laudable efforts, these problems continued to bedevil the health system in the state.

When it seemed that a clog in the wheel of progress presented itself, the pharmacies in the secondary categories were outsourced but still, the problem lingered on.

However, with the introduction of new social health insurance scheme by the state government and the passage of its bill by the State of Osun House of Assembly on Thursday 1st of November, 2018, it seems succor has finally come.

Now, in a health system beleaguered by problems already, an industrial strike may cause more danger, because such a strike would mean that services in public hospitals would grind to a halt, patients already on admission may be hurriedly discharged and the private health system in the state which many of the patients would rush to, may be overwhelmed.

It may also lead to the non or half implementation of the newly signed into law, the State of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).

The strike will further expose the population especially the poor ones to quacks. How is this so? Most that would not be able to afford the huge bills by these private health facilities will patronise quacks and patent medicine stores. This may spell doom.

Anytime there is a strike, whether local or national, the health system always bear the brunt. The health sector in Osun over the course of the years has been standing on a hairs strand and it is only by sheer determination on the part of government and stakeholders that the system has not collapsed due to the incessant problems besetting it.

Despite all these, we cannot say that all has not been rosy with the sector and the biggest thing to occur to it is the signing into law of the State Health Insurance Scheme. By this singular venture, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) would be made available for both the rich and the poor.

There is no where that health care is free anymore and in accordance with international best practices, the health insurance scheme would cater for all and sundry irrespective of social status.

Good news that the strike has been called off, however, better welfare package for medical and health workers, steady supply of drugs, medical consumables and equipment, and better services from workers towards patients is advocated, as industrial scale action would spell disaster for the health system especially now that the state is in a transition period.

What should be on ground now is that all hands should be on deck to ensure the workability of the newly passed law, health insurance scheme and not another strike that would keep the scheme at bay and prevent the teeming citizens of the state from enjoying the advantages of this laudable project.

In an earlier report on this medium, the state government may peg the margin purchase price for drugs at 5 per cent. This sum will be for drugs that are covered under the scheme. This means that when it gets the approval of the state government, it actually may be the cheapest of its kind in Nigeria.

This is the type of scheme that an industrial action may cause a set back for.

Therefore, the state government should not waste any time in making the insurance scheme have a foothold to ensure that the health sector live up to what it was meant to be – that is, saving lives and seeing to the healthy living of citizens of the state.