By Babangida Galleon
Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, has directed all NHIA state offices and HMOs to ensure that enrollees are not delayed for more than an hour before accessing healthcare in any accredited facility across the country.
The Adamawa State Coordinator of NHIA, Abdulhakim Aliyu, revealed this during a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme Expanding Access, Ensuring Equity organized by the state office in Yola.
The Coordinator, Adamawa State Office of the National Health Insurance Authority, Abdulhakim Aliyu, said the directive is in line with the ongoing reforms in NHIA operations by the Director General, which prioritize enrollees first, as requests for authorization codes will no longer pose a challenge in accessing healthcare services.
Abdulhakim noted that out-of-stock issues have also been addressed, as hospitals in the state are complying with NHIA operations, and enrollees no longer buy drugs outside healthcare facilities.
While the Director General emphasized easy access for enrollees under the NHIA, he equally mandated staff to visit hospitals round the clock, stressing that this is to ensure enrollees are not surcharged, delayed, or denied services. He warned that any facility that fails to meet its obligations will be dealt with accordingly.
Abdulhakim said the stakeholders’ meeting, being the first this year, comes at the right time as stakeholders will be informed about the new ICT-driven initiatives introduced by the Director General, which will help reposition the healthcare system in the country.
Also, Dr. Nneka Chinemeze, who spoke on claims management and code requests, said the engagement will enable healthcare facilities and HMOs to align with NHIA guidelines and eliminate issues of surcharges, with enrollees being at the center of service delivery
In a remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Hospitals Services Management Board, Dr. Amdzaranda Aidan, represented by the Director of Food, Drugs and Medical Services, Pharmacist Hasiya Mohammad, said the meeting will enable stakeholders to acknowledge the progress made, identify challenges ahead, and recognize the need for collective input and expertise in ensuring the healthcare system remains responsive to residents’ needs.
The Director added that the Hospitals Services Management Board is committed to ensuring the mandates of NHIA are achieved through improved access to quality healthcare for residents.
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