The Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHI ), Dr. Divine Igwe, has called on the Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Prof. Chigozie Ogbu to register students of his school into Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) of the agency.
This was as Igwe advocated that the medical fee enshrined in the school fees should be used for that purpose.
Igwe who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing.
He noted that insuring the health of the students would be of great benefit to them as it would curtail their medical expenses.
He further explained that the agency apart from the insurance programmes for the vulnerable, it has other packages that will benefit everyone in the society.
He said, “The basic health care condition fund was enacted in December 2014 as part of the coverage of the people of Nigeria not only Ebonyi state, it is in the 36 state of the federation. Plus FCT. It is to be given to the vulnerable ones in the society.
“In 2018 Ebonyi state got it’s own packages and the state health insurance started on December 18, 2018 and commenced operation 2021.
“Apart from the Basic health care insurance, we now have what we called GIFSHIP(Group, individual Family Social Health Insurance)and TISHIP (Tetiary, Institution Social Health Insurance Program), this two programs covers everybody.
“If you watch Ebonyi state University , you will find out that in their school fees their is compulsory medical fee, I have spoken with the vice chancellor to use this particular money to insure the students, all the students their has to be registered under TISHIP (Tetiary, Institution Social Health Insurance Program),of the Agency.
“With this, they can receive free treatment wherever they are so that they would not be spending extra money on heath.”
Speaking further on the achievements of the agency, Dr. Igwe said, “the agency has worked tirelessly to improve service delivery to its beneficiaries. We have partnered with more healthcare providers to ensure that our members have access to a wide range of healthcare services, including, ANCs, delivery, etc.
‘In line with our commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare coverage, the agency has enhanced its benefits package to include additional services such as dental care, mental health services, and maternity care. This ensures that our enrollees receive the care they need to stay healthy and well.
“The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency has embraced digital technology to streamline its operations and improve efficiency. We have implemented a digital platform for enrollment, claims processing, and member communication, making it easier for our beneficiaries to access and utilize their health insurance benefits”.
