Lagos unveils Ilera Eko Diaspora health insurance for residents

Lagos State Government through the Lagos Health Management Agency (LASHMA) recently unveiled a new social health insurance plan under the mandatory Lagos Health Scheme tagged, “Ilera Eko Diaspora Health plan”.

The introduction of this plan is geared towards increasing access to qualitative and efficient health service delivery as well as further pushing the drive towards attaining universal health coverage in Lagos State.

Speaking at the lunch and unveiling of the new plan at the Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi explained that the new plan provides a window of opportunity to Nigerians living abroad and desirous of providing and sponsoring health insurance coverage for their loved ones resident in Lagos State.

In his words: “The lunch of the new Ilera Eko Diaspora Health Plan is the first of its kind in Nigeria and is expected to deepen and widen access to affordable and quality care through a new gateway of opportunities for Nigerians dependent on relatives living in the diaspora for their health expenditure”

Prof. Akin Abayomi explains further that the launch of the product is another milestone achievement by LASHMA, Ministry of Health and the State Government, noting that the new plan marks an era of globalization in the operation of social health insurance space in Nigeria which will enable resident get affordable access to sustainable health care service delivery and go a long way in the achieving the health and environment mandate of the THEMES agenda of the present administration.

“The launch of the new Diaspora Health Plan is apt and supports the Health and environment mandate of the present administration. Lagos State Government continues to support and encourage LASHMA in the delivery of the dividend of democracy, improve lives and prevent catastrophic health spendings for Lagos residents” He said.

The Commissioner noted that the lunch and deployment of the plan is another attestation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to ensuring that Lagos residents have access to affordable and quality health care through premium sponsored across international borders. He added that the product when fully deployed into the market will go a long way in the achievement of universal health care coverage in the state.

In his words” The product, when fully deployed into the market place will act as a catalyst in achieving the cardinal objectives of the Lagos State Government’s THEMES agenda on Health and Environment”

Abayomi disclosed that the lunch of the new plan underscores the need for innovation in enhancing the efficiency of LASHMA’s operation as a tool towards achieving Universal Health Coverage adding that the unveiling of the product is a step in the right direction.

Earlier in her remarks, General Manager, LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba explained the new Diaspora Health plan will guarantee affordable and quality healthcare services through third-party financing and management system that enables the pooling of resources and medical expertise.

“For a pre-paid premium, subscribers to ILERA-EKO Diaspora social health insurance plan are assured of access to affordable healthcare when required amongst the list of ILERAEKO accredited hospitals.

She further explained that the plan provides access to a wide range of private and public hospitals in all local governments of the state adding that other benefits of the new plan include amongst others, peace of mind, affordable premiums, budgetable medical expenditure, equitable distribution of healthcare costs, protection from the financial hardship of huge medical bills, maintenance of high standard of healthcare delivery services and greater value for money spent.