Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme needs overhaul to halt sub-change to fund, services to patients

• Contributors urges Delta State House of Assembly to  revisit, amend the  law
• Says all  contributors’ family members should enjoy health scheme irrespective of age

There has been hues and cries from subscribers and patients over the services rendered under the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme as they are calling for total review of the Act establishing the scheme as well as its operational services, writes Rachel Ifechukwude, Delta State Gentechnews Correspondent.

 

The Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) was established by Law in 2016 to oversee the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to improve both physical and financial access to quality health care services for all residents of Delta State.

This is also sequel to Universal Health Coverage (UHC)which is central to the

attainment of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals especially SDG 3 on Good Health and Wellbeing for all.

The Objectives of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC)  includes:

• Implement, supervise and regulate the effective

administration of the Delta State Contributory

Health Scheme.

• Ensure that every resident of Delta State has

access to equitable health care services.

• Ensure that all residents of Delta State have

financial protection and physical access to quality

and affordable health care services.

• Protect families from the financial hardship of huge

medical bills.

• Limit the rise in the cost of healthcare services.
• Ensure equitable distribution of health care costs

across different income groups.

• Maintain high standard of health care delivery

services within the Health Scheme.

• Ensure efficiency in health care service delivery.
• Improve and harness private sector participation in

the provision of health care services.

• Ensure adequate distribution of health facilities

within the State.

• Ensure appropriate patronage at all levels of the

health care delivery system.

• Ensure the availability of alternative sources of

funding to the health sector for improved services.

• In cases where residents do not have available

medical and other health services, to take such

measures as are necessary to plan, organize and

develop medical and other health services

commensurate with the needs of the residents.

• Any other action necessary to facilitate access to

quality and affordable healthcare services for all

residents of Delta State.

However, in pursuit of this goal, the Delta State Contributory

Health Commission (DSCHC) which was established by Law

to improve both physical and financial access to quality

Health care services for all residents of Delta State have been discovered to harbour some drawbacks which make the contributors to be sub-change in its services.

Gentechnews in its findings on the operation of the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme discovered some taunting facts that gave credence to show that the contributors of this scheme are being sub change in both deduction of their fund, operation of the scheme and its services, among others.

Investigation revealed that at enrolment the beneficiaries are the contributor, wife/husband and their children, while deductions from civil servants are made at source via their salaries.

However, the scheme has by the law establishing it has turned the common war cry ‘health is wealth ‘which is borne out of the reality that it is only a healthy man that can meet his needs, his immediate environment and the society at large into a kill-joy because as soon as the children of the contributors turn 18 years, they are banned from enjoying the Health Insurance Scheme.

It has therefore been discovered that the scheme is abnormally flawed because the contributors whose children are above 18 years now have to be paying for everything that they were entitled to from the beginning, yet the same amount are still being deducted from their parents’ salaries.

The most daunting part of the challenges being experienced now stem from out-of-stock syndrome for most drugs, non- issuance of cards, delay or denial of medical services, fixing of days for treatment one month ahead when a patient has need to see a doctor immediately, increase in out-of-pocket expenses, non-availability of drugs such as paracetamol, Amoxil and minor drugs which they refer to as  not covered under the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.

Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme contributors are calling on the Delta State House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency revisit and amend this law establishing it to ensure that contributors whose fund are being used to run the scheme are made to get treatment and other benefits for their children who are being denied this scheme on the ground that they are over 18 years of age.