Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced on Monday that retirees will be enrolled in the state's health insurance scheme at no cost, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship. The governor revealed this during the maiden national summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure.
Orange Health Insurance Scheme for Retirees
Aiyedatiwa stated that the state government will fully finance the enrollment of all retirees under the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS). He explained that the decision was driven by rising medical costs in old age and the increasing healthcare needs of pensioners. The governor also disclosed that Ondo has become the first state in Nigeria to implement the newly approved salary structure for health workers, a move aimed at reducing brain drain and retaining skilled professionals.
Summit Focus on Universal Health Coverage
The summit, themed "Economic Realities and the Universal Health Coverage Dream: Mobilizing States for Scalable Health Insurance," attracted policymakers, health insurance managers, development partners, and government officials. Aiyedatiwa emphasized that healthcare financing debates have become more urgent due to inflation and worsening economic conditions affecting households. He noted that financial constraints often force families to delay seeking medical care until conditions become severe and costly.
"When households are squeezed economically, healthcare is often the first casualty. Individuals delay seeking medical attention until a minor ailment becomes a life-threatening and financially ruinous emergency," Aiyedatiwa said. He stressed that social health insurance is an economic necessity and the most potent weapon to protect citizens from catastrophic health expenditures.
N1 Billion Hospital Intervention Fund
The governor also approved a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund to expand and modernize healthcare facilities across the state. The fund, separate from routine health expenditure, is designed to enhance hospital capacity and improve service delivery.
Lowest Infant Mortality Rate
Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, commended Ondo for recording the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria. Citing data from the National Demographic and Health Survey, he stated that neonatal mortality stands at three per 1,000 live births and infant mortality at eight per 1,000. Filani also praised President Bola Tinubu for increasing fiscal resources to states, urging effective utilization and treatment of universal health coverage as a prioritization framework.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Banji Ajaka described the summit as timely for addressing critical challenges in Nigeria's health sector. He called on states to adopt innovative financing strategies to sustain healthcare delivery, noting that reliance on traditional funding models is no longer sufficient.
Unified Platform for State Health Insurance Agencies
Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Social Health Insurance Agencies, Dr. Kabir Mustapha, said the summit marked the first coordinated gathering of all state health insurance agencies and the Federal Capital Territory under a unified platform. Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, noted that over 90 percent of Nigerians remain outside the formal insurance system, exposing them to financial hardship. He stressed that universal health coverage is essential to protecting citizens from medical poverty.
