The Delta state government has said the need to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare services to all residents of the State is adduced as reason for the introduction of the contributory health scheme by the state government.
The Chairman of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, stated this during a sensitization programme organized by the Commission in collaboration with Labour Unions for union leaders and civil servants in the state held at Labour House, Asaba.
Akpoveta maintained that it was very necessary for civil servants all residents in the state to key into the scheme, pointing out that the new health scheme is mandatory for all categories of employers and employees whose organization has in its employment 10 persons and above.
“The new health scheme is the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme. It is a contributory social health insurance scheme that aims at providing access to quality and affordable health care service to all residents in Delta State”.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Ben Nkechika, said the scheme is also aimed at achieving universal health coverage, adding that health insurance is all about healthy living for everybody.
He disclosed that an employee shall make a monthly contribution of 1.75 per cent of the total of his/her monthly gross salary into the scheme as part of his/her premium which will cover the employee, spouse and four children under 18 years while the employer shall contribute another 1.75 per cent of the employees monthly gross salary to complete the premium on behalf of each employee.
According to him, everyone who contributes into the pool of funds and goes to an accredited hospital when ill, will receive medical care without paying any money at the hospital.
He further disclosed that the scheme is not for serving public servants alone, adding that an enrollee (contributor) will be covered in the scheme even after retiring from service, as long as the person is alive and resident in the state.
To this end, he encouraged civil servants and all residents in the state to key into the scheme for improved access to quality and affordable basic minimum benefit healthcare package service irrespective of the person’s socio-economic status if the person is a resident of Delta State.
Addressing the people at the occasion which feature questions and answers, the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Delta State, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, opined that the scheme was for the benefit of the civil servants and enjoined them to embrace and key into the scheme.
On the fears expressed by the civil servant on the workability of the scheme in view of the alleged failure of other schemes such as contributory pension scheme, National Housing Scheme, among others, Ofobruku allayed their affairs, assuring them that the present administration was irrevocably committed to ensuring the success of the scheme for the benefit of all.