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The Executive Secretary (ES) of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr Sola Akande, has disclosed that the agency is gradually moving from enrollment of individuals to enrollment of groups.
Akande said that the rate of enrollment for health insurance has increased astronomically in the state, noting that people now understand the benefits of health insurance.
The ES said the agency was currently working on a field mission with the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care centres, adding that free medical examination was conducted for the poor and needy in all the 33 local government areas in Oyo State.
“This is the second time we are attending the health mission and all the 33 local governments have come to know a bit about health insurance. The enrollment has increased and that shows that conviction and enlightenment have taken place; the first time was difficult but people understand better now.
“One of the innovative things that the Ministry of Health did was that all programmes were held in general hospitals and they are working together with the health insurance. It is now very easy for people to know the role of health insurance in a particular local government and it has increased enrollment,”he said.
Akande added that the agency was planning to engage the services of opthalmologists, obstetrics and gynaecology doctors who have private facilities, stressing that they would be empowered and accredited to work in the scheme in order to attend to enrollees.