Health

NHIS cautions stakeholders against fraudulent practices

 

By Daniel Ayantoye

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has warned stakeholders comprising Enrollee, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Health Care Facilities (HCFs) against fraudulent practices.
The Kwara state Coordinator of NHIS, Hajara Abdullahi, who gave the warning while delivering her keynote address at a day forum organised for stakeholders in Ilorin on Thursday, stated that some stakeholders are operating outside the operational guideline provided by the scheme.
According to her, while some enrollees deliberately engage in sharp practices, some facilities don’t provide adequate services.
She added that there have been several complaints from enrollees against their chosen HCFs.
“The office has observed with dismay that despite the distribution of operational guidelines to all accredited HCFs by the scheme, yet the office keeps receiving multitude of complaints from our esteemed enrollees against their chosen HCFs ranging from out -of -pocket expenses, poor quality services and lack of attention.”
She however warned that any stakeholder that want to remain  in the system must follow the operational guideline.
Speaking on the essence of the forum, Abdullahi noted that it is a periodical event aimed at re-updating the target audience on operation of the scheme as it affects their rights, limitations and responsibilities.
Similarly, the zonal coordinator of the scheme, Dr. Abdulhamid Habib who enjoined stakeholders to maintain good standard, stated that any facility that performs below expectation will be deregistered from the scheme.
In her remarks, the Director General of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Bureau, Dr. Bunmi Jetawo who was represented by Dr. Adeyemi Samuel, called for prompt payment to health facilities by HMOs in other to ensure quality services to their enrollees, adding  that efficiency of facilities will be guaranteed when there is no delay in payments.
Earlier, while presenting his paper on the topic: Challenges in Health Care Delivery under NHIS and the way forward, Prof. Adegboyega Fawole condemned the act of giving  gratification to enrollees by doctors, describing it as unprofessional, capable of distabilising the system.
Meanwhile, the forum attracted participants accross various organisations in the state featuring interactive sessions as several topics were discussed ranging from drug administration under the scheme by Pharm Yusuf Alhassan of NHIS, Salient Issues on the new operational guidelines by Hajara Abdullahi and Rights, responsibilities, limitations of enrollees and sanctions of erring stakeholders by Dr. Habib Abdulhamid.

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