Katsina enrols 320,000 persons in contributory healthcare scheme

The Katsina State Government has enrolled 320,000 persons in the formal sector programme of its contributory healthcare scheme and 53,241 vulnerable population are expected to be covered under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who unveiled this Tuesday while flagging off the implementation of the scheme, said the contributory scheme was designed to be one of the effective reforms in the state health sector.

Newsmen report that Governor Masari, had on December 27, 2018, signed into law the bill establishing the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA).

He said one per cent of the state statutory allocation has been appropriated in the 2021 budget and dedicated to the state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency as equity fund for the vulnerable groups and matching grant for BHCPF to tackle risk pool of the scheme.

He said: “The Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Scheme is designed to be one of the successful reforms in the health sector with over 320,000 prospective enrollees in the formal sector programme and 53,241 vulnerable population to be covered under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.”

Masari explained that the contributory healthcare scheme would reduce catastrophic healthcare expenditure among the people of the state, assuring them that adequate funds would be accorded to the scheme for efficient and quality health services for all Katsina residents, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.

The governor reiterated that arrangements are ongoing to integrate the state retired civil servants into the scheme as soon as the contributory pension scheme law is passed.

In his opening remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Yakubu Nuhu Danja, said the scheme would drive the process of achieving universal health coverage by ensuring that all residents of the state have access to effective and affordable healthcare services.

He added that the contributory scheme would also protect families from financial hardship of huge medical bills and ensure improvement of health facilities across the state.

Written By: Mboutidem Emma-Ukpanah

Source: Today ng

Link: https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/katsina-enrols-320000-persons-contributory-healthcare-scheme-361306