Delta Govt launches healthcare revatilisation programme

Delta Govt launches healthcare revatilisation programme

The Delta Government says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with relevant stakeholders to create access to finance to enable private the sector revitalise 25 primary healthcare centres across the state.
Dr Ben Nkechika, the Director-General, Delta Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), disclosed this in his welcome address on Monday at the inauguration of the programme in Asaba.
He said the programme was in partnership with the state government, Bank of Industry (BOI), Pharm Access Foundation, financial institutions and reputable private sector healthcare service operators.
Nkechika explained that the financial arrangement would enable the private sector service operators obtain loan at a single digit interest rate, takeover the defunct and abandoned facilities, renovate and operationalise them under the state’s contributory health scheme.
The director-general said the defunct health facilities were built and equipped by various governments, non-governmental organisations and private individuals but had been abandoned for years due to operational challenges.
He said the innovative intervention by the state government was to ensure availability of quality and affordable healthcare services in rural communities, especially in the riverine areas of the state.
According to him, this is the way forward toward achieving the universal healthcare coverage in the state.
“Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa took the bold decision to implement the 'Access to Finance’ programme in the state to revitalise and operationalise 25 defunct healthcare facilities spread across the state.
“This is the first phase, more defunct health facilities are currently being identified for the next phase.
“The private sector service operators will be handed over the defunct healthcare facilities in each of the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
“This is to renovate, operate and transfer back to state government at a specified tenure at low interest loan facility from the Bank of Industry (BOI),’’ he said.
Dr Isaac Akpoveta, Chairman, DSCHC, commended the governor and BOI for accepting to key into the programme, adding that the overall benefit will reach everybody in the state.
According to him, the programme will also ensure quality and affordable healthcare service delivery in rural areas, particularly in the riverine communities and other areas with difficult terrain in the state.
“With this programme, the commission would ensure that health facilities have the right equipment and personnel to deliver healthcare at affordable rates in those rural communities.
“The state government has agreed to pay for those who could not afford to pay for their medical services and by this we hope to achieve urban-rural migration in healthcare delivery in the state.
“This innovation will ensure 24 hours quality healthcare services across the state under the state contributory health scheme.’’
Dr Olamide Okulaja, the Director, Pharm Acess Foundation, on behalf of other stakeholders, thanked the governor for endorsing such a wonderful initiative.
He urged the participants to ensure the provision of quality healthcare delivery in line with best world practices.
He promised that the foundation would interface with the BOI and the state government to ensure that the programme succeeded.
“In this scheme, lots of people will be mandated to make contributions to a pool, so, they expect quality healthcare services; because it is a social welfare scheme.
“We will ensure that the private sector provide quality healthcare of international standard at affordable rate,” he said.
Dr Daniel Omodon, a private healthcare provider, also commended the initiative and called on all the stakeholders to give their support to the programme to make it successful.
Supreme Magazine gather that the MoU was signed by the Chairman of the commission, Dr Isaac Akpoveta, all relevant stakeholders including the representatives of BOI.

Source: NAN

Photo Credit: Google