THE Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill for a law to establish the State Health Insurance Scheme.
This, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi said it’s part of the assembly’s resolve to strengthen and reform the health sector with a view to achieving a more comprehensive healthcare delivery for all residents of the state
The bill titled, “HB. NO 039/OG/2019 – ‘A bill for a law to provide for the Establishment of the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme and the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme Governing Board with the objectives of ensuring access to good health care services to all residents of Ogun State and protecting their families from financial hardship of huge medical bills and other matters connected therewith was passed during a plenary following the presentation of report by the House Committee on Health
Chairman of the committee, Israel Jolaoso later moved a motion for the adoption of the report which was seconded by Hon Olusola Sonuga and supported by the House through a voice vote. The bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the House.
The motion for the third reading of the bill was later moved by the Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo and seconded by Hon Rasaq Oduntan, while the Clerk of the Assembly, Lanre Bisiriyu, did the third reading.
Adekunbi, thereafter directed that the clean copy of the bill be forwarded to the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for his assent.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that stakeholders in the health and allied sector in the state at a public hearing on the bill, described the legislation as an instrument for positive initiative for all levels of income earners aimed at repositioning the health sector to cater for the people irrespective of age, social status or political affiliations.
They remarked that the implementation of the bill would reduce out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare as it would take care of the rise in the cost of healthcare services among different income groups.
and then