by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Director-General of Plateau State Contributory HealthCare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), Dr. Agabus Manasseh, says, the media can be used as a tool to advocate for policies that support agency in sustainable health insurance programs.
According to him, this can be done by raising awareness about the importance of government support for healthcare initiatives and highlighting the benefits of health insurance coverage. The agency can influence public opinion and policy decisions in favor of expanding access to quality healthcare.
Speaking during an Interface with the Media on ‘Media a Tool for Sustainability and Development,’ on Monday at Crest Hotel Jos, the D-G said that “Media engagement facilitates communication and collaboration between PLASCHEMA, other government agencies, healthcare providers, insurance partners, and the public is very important.
“By leveraging on your media platforms for stakeholder engagement, the Agency can foster more partnerships, dialogue, and collective efforts towards improving access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare services through our health insurance programs,” he stressed.
According to him, they believe that the media plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of the social health insurance programs in the State by communicating information effectively about the benefits, coverage options, enrollment procedures, and updates related to the health insurance programs; the media helps to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of having health insurance coverage.
He equally observed that, “The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions, disseminating information, and influencing policy decisions in various sectors, including healthcare.
“In the context of achieving Universal Health Coverage in Plateau State, the media serves as a key stakeholder with the power to raise awareness, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services,” he said.
He believes that the media can drive public discourse, mobilize support, and hold policymakers, healthcare givers, and the Agency accountable for ensuring that all residents have access to quality and affordable healthcare.
According to him, the Media is important – in promoting sustainable development in Health Insurance agency, especially in creating Public Awareness, Education and Information Dissemination, Building Trust and Credibility, Advocacy and Policy Influence, Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration.
On major achievements of the agency, the D-G revealed that, as at June 2023, the Agency was in arrears of 5 months’ capitation and fee-for-service, and has cleared the backlog and is now up-to-date in payment of capitation and fee-for-service for facilities and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).
This was in collaboration with their local partners, Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS). A house-to-house verification of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund beneficiaries was carried out in the Northern zone.
He narrated that, “As a follow-up to the house-to-house verification, a realignment, reallocation and re-enrolment exercise was carried out in the Northern zone. The whole exercise was aimed at increasing service utilization and also expunging the names of beneficiaries, who have moved on or are dead.
He explained further that, “The governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, approved payment of the backlog of counterpart fund to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to the tune of 327 million naira.
“These funds were deployed to pay premium (purchase healthcare) for the poor and vulnerable individuals across the state. Our partnership with Christian AID, Women and Children in Support of Community Initiatives (WOCCI) through advocacy and sensitization in targeted areas of Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Governments resulted in increased uptake of health insurance,” he stated.
“A sensitization and advocacy tour was carried out to the 17 Transition Implementation Chairmen on the need to pay Equity fund and also provide offices in their various secretariats to house PLASCHEMA.
“Also an advocacy visit to Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) on the payment of Equity fund, all the chairmen are now committed to paying Equity fund and have provided offices for PLASCHEMA.
“Development of the 2024 Annual Operational Plan, Development of an integrated marketing and communication 3-year strategic plan, Development of 5 years’ strategic plan for the Agency – PLASCHEMA Management visited the Country Director of Christian Aid and his team seeking for collaboration and support to achieve the mandate of the Agency.
“We requested for some gadgets, especially enrolment, ICT and data collection gadgets and we sought for referral from counterpart health programs that will help us accelerate UHC in Plateau State.
“The Agency is currently developing home-grown ICT solutions in collaboration with our ICT partners to efficiently manage the Agency’s information systems and data,” he stated.
Speaking earlier, PLASCHEMA’s Director of Human Resources and Administration, Evelyn Dantak, commended the Media for their dedication to the upholding of journalistic integrity and providing the public with accurate and timely information.
She stressed that, “Their work is instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability and social responsibility,” while encouraging the media to continue using their platform to advocate for the sustainable development, amplified marginalized voices and foster a culture of inclusivity and diversity, adding that, “By so doing, we can together work towards building a healthier, more equitable future for all, as we work towards achieving universal health coverage in the state.”