Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu says health insurance schemes will ensure citizens have access to quality healthcare services and promote a healthier population.
Sanwo-Olu made the remark during a courtesy visit by the National Leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by the President, Prof. Bala Audu.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat at the event, which took place at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.
The governor urged the NMA to lead the charge in advocating for health insurance schemes in Nigeria as many struggle to fund their healthcare independently.
He noted that health insurance was a top priority in Lagos State, given its rapidly growing population.
According to him, every nation or state in the world must take the health of its citizens paramount and seriously, moreso as people find it difficult to fund their health on their own.
The governor also highlighted the need for private hospitals to be included in health insurance schemes, to ensure citizens receive proper healthcare management.
He announced plans to establish the University of Medicine and Allied Science, to increase the number of medical doctors produced in the state from one hundred and fifty to about a thousand and more.
“We are trying to increase our Primary Health Centres so that we can treat people better under our Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.
“As part of our health insurance, we included more private hospitals to join the scheme, and I think that is what we need to push to every part of the country so that people can have access to health insurance,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Earlier in his address, Audu commended Sanwo-Olu’s achievements in healthcare, including the Ilera Eko programme and the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He requested the governor’s support for the association’s advocacy efforts, including facility regulation and welfare packages for healthcare professionals.
The NMA president emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government and medical professionals to achieve universal health coverage and international best practices in healthcare.
Audu urged Sanwo-Olu to champion the advocacies to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and President Bola Tinubu.
He also solicited support for the association’s National Secretariat building project and requested welfare packages for doctors in Lagos State.
The NMA president urged the state government to implement the reviewed CONMESS salary scale, non-taxable call duty allowance, housing/car loan, among others. (NAN)
