The Ultimate Health Management Services, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), has unveiled the U-Health Gifship Social Health Insurance Programme targeted at the informal sector.
Dr Lekan Ewenla, Managing Director of the HMO, said at the launch on Wednesday in Lagos that Gifship is targeted at small and medium-scale enterprises in the informal sector.
He explained that the Gifship product operates under the benefit package of the Federal Government-approved National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) 2005, covering a wide range of healthcare services.
He emphasised that while the NHIS was designed for civil servants in the formal sector, the Gifship product specifically targets the over 85 per cent of Nigerians in the informal sector.
According to him, with an annual premium of N38,780, enrollees of the Gifship health scheme can be covered as individuals, groups, or families for one year.
“The essence of this product is to ensure that the over 160 million out of the 200 million Nigerians operating in the informal sector have access to quality, timely and affordable healthcare services they need.
“Ultimate HMO is the first to take the bold step of designing a health insurance package specifically targeting the informal sector.
“We have been driving this business over the years with lots of innovations and strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders.
“A dual identification card — both soft and hard copy — has been designed for enrollees to enable easy access to healthcare services anytime, any day,” Ewenla said.
The Assistant General Manger, Ultimate Health HMO, Dr Madu Chima, gave an overview of the Gifship product benefit package to include health consultation, medication, cancer care and investigation services.
Chima explained that management of chronic conditions, In-patient services, accident and emergencies, ultrasound scan, pediatric and dental services were among other benefit package of the product.
According to him, the goal of U-Health Gifship is to penetrate the informal and ensure healthcare services for all Nigerians.
In his remarks, Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Femi Adeoye, commended Ultimate Health for the initiative, describing it as “timely and necessary”.
Represented by Dr Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, the State Coordinator, NHIA, Adeoye encouraged Nigerians to leverage the initiative to improve their health.
“The benefit package is robust. Let every Nigerian have health insurance. The health poverty in Nigeria has to come down.
“To ensure effectiveness, the NHIA will be actively involved in monitoring what hospitals and healthcare providers are doing,” Adeoye said.
Representatives from the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce, and NewGate Hospital also gave goodwill messages at the event. (NAN)
