The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has sought collaboration with the Permanent Secretaries in the Lagos State Public Service, to domesticate the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act and implement the Executive Order issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, at a seminar organised by the Agency for the Permanent Secretaries on the domestication of the NHIA Act and implementation of the Executive Order held recently at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, said that the collaboration would help to improve enrolment on ILERA EKO, improve healthcare delivery, enforce standards and reinstate people’s trust in the Scheme.
She reminded the participants that the NHIA Act which was signed into Law in May 2022, has made enrolment on the Social Health Insurance mandatory for all residents in Nigeria. This has strengthened the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) Law of 2015 by making Health Insurance compulsory for all Lagos State residents.
Dr. Zamba said that LASHMA, empowered through its regulatory functions is set to uphold the requirements of the LSHS as a framework to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the State.
She said that the implementation of the Executive Order and domestication of the NHIA Act would play a vital role in achieving the great vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda in Health, which is to secure the health of Lagos residents.
The Permanent Secretary, LASHMA stated that with the support of the top officials in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, many lives will be saved. She opined that history will remember everyone who contributes resources to the cause of ensuring UHC in Lagos State.
Dr. Zamba urged the Permanent Secretaries to assist in ensuring that all their Staff are enrolled on ILERA EKO and also utilise the facilities whenever they have any medical challenge, saying “It is one thing to register on ILERA EKO and it is another to access care”.
The Permanent Secretaries urged Public Servants and other Enrollees on ILERA EKO not to hesitate to call the Customer Service Lines – 0800 – ILERAEKO (0800 – 45372356) Toll-Free or 0700 – ILERAEKO (0700 – 45372356) while at the Hospital whenever there is any challenge.
She also appealed to the Permanent Secretaries to always request the Corporate Identification Number (CIN) of corporate organisations that want to do business with the MDAs and also verify such CIN.
The Coordinator, Regulations, LASHMA, Mr. Tosin Awosika, in his presentation titled: “Lagos State Health Scheme: Domestication of the NHIA Act”, explained that the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was to among others, ensure that residents comply with the provisions of the LSHS and the NHIA Act as these, will assist Government in ensuring that every resident of Lagos State, has access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
He said that with the domestication of the NHIA Act, ILERA EKO is now compulsory for all residents and as such, residents must provide proof of subscription to ILERA EKO Health Plan as a requirement for accessing public services in the State.
“In addition, all public healthcare facilities according to the Executive Order are to demand evidence of active enrolment on ILERA EKO from all persons seeking medical care”, he said.
The Coordinator also added that all the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in the State MUST ensure that their clients are enrolled on ILERA EKO Health plans before purchasing supplementary/complementary Health Insurance plan(s).
The Permanent Secretaries were later taken through the ILERA EKO Benefit package and verification modalities of active enrollment on ILERA EKO which could be either through the LASHMA USSD Code or Website – https://lashma.com
