As part of its mandate to providing easy access to affordable healthcare, the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) has successfully funded 1,771 surgeries and rendered 48,885 secondary clinical services to Bayelsans in the last two years it has been in operation.
According to Dr Zuoboemi Agadah, the Executive Secretary of BHIS, the scheme has also registered a total of 113,424 public servants, saying, as a result, the maternal mortality rate in the state has dropped, making it the lowest in the South-South region.
Speaking during a four-day symposium and training on new trends in health insurance in Yenagoa yesterday, Agadah said the scheme was running at a profit and currently had N1.8 billion under its management which comprised equity contribution from Bayelsa Government and deductions from enrollees.
He disclosed that so far, the fund had earned a profit of N260 million adding that having consolidated on the public sector participation, the next phase of growth was the private sector.
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The executive secretary further explained that the scheme had commenced the enrolment of private-sector beneficiaries as a means of achieving universal health insurance coverage, just as the BHIS law makes health insurance mandatory for all residents.
Agada said that at least 274, 631 hospitals now provide services for enrollees across the state and that this has improved the health-seeking habits of the people.
Dr Kazeem Mustapha, Executive Director, United Healthcare in the Health Management Organisation (HMO) of the scheme, said that BHIS is already a success story that has enhanced the health index of the state.
Mustapha urged BHIS management to consolidate on the gains from the public service sector by focusing on the private sector.
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