NIGERIA – The Lagos State government has made it compulsory for all residents to have Ilera Eko health insurance regardless of their socio-economic status.

The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), established in 2015, manages the Ilera Eko Scheme which is designed to provide access to effective, quality, and equitable healthcare services, while providing financial protection from the cost of healthcare to all residents of Lagos State.

Last year December, Lagos Health Management Agency, LASHMA, launched a new social health insurance plan, under the mandatory Lagos Health Scheme, tagged ‘Ilera Eko Diaspora Health plan’, to ensure enhanced global healthcare of the state.

The new plan provides a window of opportunity to Nigerians living abroad and desirous of providing and sponsoring health insurance coverage for their loved ones resident in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the state government was determined to make healthcare accessible to all residents. 

“Lagos State health insurance plan is not meant for only civil servants but for every resident of the state,” he said.

“The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the health sector a focal point of his administration and this is one of the initiatives in the health sector which is to ensure accessibility of healthcare to all the residents.”

He added that it is meant for every resident irrespective of socio-economic status and circumstances. “The bill of rights and enrollee handbook will let the beneficiaries know their rights and responsibilities when they are accessing healthcare,” he said.

Speaking earlier at the event, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said the government was working to improve the quality of services in the state health facilities.

“Since the commencement of the Ilera Eko Social Health Plan, we have taken actionable steps towards improving healthcare service delivery on the Scheme,” General Manager of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba said.

“The Agency has increased health benefits on the Ilera Eko plan, and various provider improvement initiatives are also being implemented just to ensure all our customers enjoy quality health services.

“Recently the Agency Launched a diaspora plan, a novel initiative in the Nigerian Social Health Insurance space.”

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