The Chief Executive Officer of Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Uchenna Ewelike, has commended the governor of Imo State, His Excellency Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for providing financial risk protection to over 37,000 Imo civil servants as the health insurance agency pays its first capitation to healthcare providers for the immediate commencement of service delivery for the enrolled lives. This commendation comes following the payment of the premium for the principal contributors by His Excellency. It is to be recalled that the Governor of Imo State had on the 4th of September 2023 approved the payment for the health insurance coverage of over 37,000 Imo workers.
The formal sector social health insurance program which is set to commence immediately upon the payment of capitations by the agency is carefully designed to offer Imo civil servants quality health services as only accredited hospitals with Service Level Agreements with the agency are selected to render services to the formal sector enrollees.
The already enrolled and empanelled Imo civil servants are to receive healthcare services according to the hospitals designated to their MDAs as contained in the document that will be unveiled on Friday 20th October 2023 where the IMSHIA Chief Executive Officer will be signing the symbolic capitation cheque of payment for commencement of access to care.
The IMSHIA CEO, Dr Uchenna Ewelike has explained that the gesture is a demonstration of the love and commitment the Uzodimma-led 3R administration has for the well-being of Imolites, stressing that it was firstly evident in the provision of financial risk protection for over 85,000 poor and vulnerable citizens of the state and now the 37,000 civil servants. He noted that Imo has joined the league of other states to run and implement the formal sector health insurance program and on that note, he has thanked the governor for breaking the jinx in Imo since the creation of the state.
He has expressed profound gratitude and deep appreciation to the governor for the free healthcare largesse and assured of effective implementation of the program while referencing the results, and testimonies from BHCPF as he further revealed that the agency also has the ImoCare program in waiting for rollout to take care of the informal sector population.