Determined to establish an efficient social security system, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) have stepped up efforts to midwife a health insurance scheme for retirees across the country.
To this end, a joint committee of both agencies has produced a draft blueprint setting out the funding options of the Retirees Social Health Insurance Programme(RSHIP).
According to a statement issued by the head, public relations, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, the executive secretary of NHIS, Mr. Waziri Dogo-Muhammad, who presented the document to a workshop for retirees in the North-West Zone, Kaduna, stated that designing the retirees’ scheme was part of efforts to ensure every Nigerian accessed affordable healthcare.
Muhammad, in obvious response to the issue of attainment of the 2015 presidential mandate for universal coverage, said it was dependent on the scheme’s capacity to conceptualise programmes for all categories of Nigerians.
The health insurance boss who was represented by the general manager, Technical Operations, Dr. Hope Uweja, charged the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) to enlighten their members on their roles, responsibilities and benefits of participating in the scheme.
In her presentation, Deputy General Manager, Retirees’ Social Health Insurance Scheme (RCSHIP) Dr. Amamatu, emphasized that the vision for the programme was to establish a sustainable arrangement for senior citizens leading to enhanced longevity.
The NHIS has planned to engage pensioners in other zones of the country, aimed at securing stakeholders.
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