The Defence Health Maintenance Ltd. (DHML) has commenced moves to capture all military veterans and their families on its healthcare portal to ensure seamless access to medical services nationwide.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of DHML, retired Rear Adm. Lawan Adams, disclosed this at a one-day interactive meeting with veterans on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adams said many veterans were not enrolled on the DHML platform, resulting in difficulties when they sought medical attention at healthcare facilities.
He said the meeting was organised to sensitise veterans on the need for enrolment and provide an avenue to address challenges affecting their access to healthcare services.
”If you are not enrolled on the DHML platform, it will be difficult for you to access DHML services in any hospital.
”That is why we are sensitising everybody, including retired and serving personnel and their families, to come and register,” he said.
Adams revealed that the DHML was working with the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces and civilian hospitals to ensure that serving personnel, retirees and their families received adequate medical care.
According to him, enrolment would enable the health system to capture beneficiaries and allow them to access healthcare wherever they are.
He said DHML had also established a network of military and civilian healthcare providers across the country to improve access to medical services.
He however, stressed that the existence of healthcare facilities was not enough unless eligible beneficiaries were properly enrolled and integrated into the system.
The managing director urged veterans to openly share their experiences and challenges with DHML, assuring them that the organisation was committed to finding practical solutions to improve service delivery.
The Director of Veterans Affairs, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Raheem Taofeek, described the engagement as important, saying many veterans were unaware of healthcare privileges available to them.
Taofeek urged veterans to enrol on the DHML portal to enjoy seamless access to healthcare services.
He also called for the dispelling of rumours concerning payments and other requirements for accessing DHML services, stressing that proper enrolment was key.
Also speaking, the Head of Veterans Department, DHML, retired Lt.-Col. Susan Dibal, said the engagement was designed to strengthen collaboration between DHML and veterans’ associations.
Dibal said veterans had made significant sacrifices in the service of the nation and deserved quality, timely and compassionate healthcare.
She urged veterans to provide constructive feedback on the healthcare system, saying DHML would work with relevant stakeholders to address identified challenges.
The meeting brought together senior military officers, serving and retired personnel, leaders of veterans’ associations and other stakeholders to discuss ways of improving healthcare delivery to veterans and their families.(NAN)(NAN)
OYS/DCO
