By Samuel Adegoke
The Oyo State health insurance scheme delivers several benefits for enrollees in spite of its low cost. From pregnancy test to treatment of common diseases and free drugs, the scheme takes the burden of medical care off enrollees.
By enrolling with a paltry N8,000 per annum, enrollees get coverage for so much medical treatment including the following seven;
1. Free consultation. Enrollees enjoy free doctor consultation whenever they have reasons to visit hospital. This ordinarily costs from N1,000 to N3,000 at both government and private hospitals. And patients ordinarily pay this fee each time they visit the hospital. But this service is totally free for enrollees in OYSHIA scheme.
2. Free treatment of common ailments such as uncomplicated malaria, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, etc.
3. Free prescribed drugs. Enrollees get free generic drugs prescribed by doctors after consultation. This helps save a lot of money that will ordinarily be spent on drug. The saved funds can then be applied to other essentials.
4. Free hospitalisation/accommodation. Enrollees enjoy free hospitalisation in a general
ward for the first two days of admission. When admitted at hospital, enrollees do not have to worry about hospitalisation fee for the first two days because they are well covered.
5. Tests are covered. Enrollees enjoy free tests otherwise known as pertinent ancillary investigations for primary and secondary care. They include Malaria Parasite, Blood film, Widal’s test, Fasting & Random Blood sugar, Hb/PCV, FBC, HB genotype, Urinalysis, Stool microscopy, Urine pregnancy test.
6. Free immunisation. Routine NPI Immunisations (BCG, DPT, HPV, Oral Polio) are covered by this N8,000 standard package.
7. Family planning education. All enrollees enjoy free family planning education. They are educated on all family planning types available and guided to make informed choices in determining which one most suitable for them.
All these come under primary healthcare. Loads of other free treatments come under secondary healthcare.
