The Anambra State Government has unveiled plans to intensify efforts to expand health insurance coverage by taking its awareness campaign directly to markets across the state, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen access to quality healthcare.
The Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr. Augustine Ezeka, disclosed this during an interactive session with healthcare providers in Awka, stressing that health insurance has become indispensable to building an efficient and sustainable healthcare system.
According to him, the agency will embark on an extensive sensitisation programme targeting traders and business owners in major markets to encourage greater enrolment in the state’s health insurance scheme.
“Health insurance is no longer optional; it is an integral part of ensuring a functional and quality healthcare system. Countries with strong healthcare systems rely heavily on health insurance to guarantee access to affordable and quality medical services for their citizens,” Ezeka said.
He noted that increasing participation in the scheme would help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and improve access to essential medical services for residents.
The ASHIA boss also challenged healthcare providers to uphold high professional standards in caring for patients, warning against practices such as overbilling and poor patient management.
He assured providers that the agency was committed to ensuring prompt payment of premiums and claims, a move he said would improve service delivery and strengthen confidence in the health insurance programme.
“With timely payments and improved collaboration, healthcare providers will experience significant changes in the way healthcare services are delivered under the insurance scheme,” he added.
Professionalism solicited
Also speaking, health insurance expert, Dr. Alfred Ebiakofa, urged healthcare providers to maintain professionalism and ethical standards in their interactions with patients.
He emphasised the importance of quality customer care, noting that patients are more likely to trust and remain committed to healthcare facilities that treat them with dignity and respect.
“Healthcare providers must develop a patient-centred approach and improve their attitude towards clients. Good customer relations are critical to building confidence in both the healthcare system and the health insurance programme,” Ebiakofa said.
The session featured a question-and-answer segment, during which participants discussed challenges and opportunities in the implementation of health insurance services across the state.
The planned market outreach is expected to form a key part of Anambra’s efforts to deepen health insurance penetration and move closer to achieving universal health coverage.
