Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, emphasized that the newly introduced health insurance scheme and virtual kiosks aim to enhance the availability and fair allocation of healthcare services for residents within the state.
This was conveyed during the official introduction of the Ilera Eko Standard JAARA Health Insurance Plan and the unveiling of the Ilera Eko Virtual Booth which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
Zamba highlighted that the JAARA aspect of the health insurance initiative offers participants benefits such as telemedicine services, complimentary annual health check-ups, specialized care for diabetes and cancer, as well as access to diverse medical consultants and procedures.
She elaborated that individuals enrolled in the Standard Jaara Premium category are required to remit an annual sum of N15,000, which can be paid in installments of N5,000 bi-monthly, N4,125 quarterly, or N1,500 monthly.
Additionally, families of four and six are expected to pay N55,000 and N80,000 per annum, respectively, aiming to cater to the financial capabilities of both small and large families.
In a previous report by Naijatraffic, it was disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced during the inauguration of the virtual kiosks that pensioners in Lagos State are entitled to one year of cost-free healthcare services.
These virtual kiosks are situated at various markets including Sabo market, Adamo market in Ikorodu, Ayetoro market in Epe, Ketu market, and Yaba market, with plans underway to scale up the number to 300 in the future.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged residents to prioritize their health and enroll in the healthcare scheme to benefit from the provisions.
It was also reported that Dr. Zamba, the LASHMA Permanent Secretary, mentioned in a separate interaction that the Standard Jaara model is an advancement of the Ilera Eko health plan, encompassing expanded coverage for surgeries, dental care, and management of diabetes.
“We have scientifically arrived at what will fit into that package at the most affordable price. The standard plan covers treatment for malaria, cough and asthma, hypertension and diabetes. Enrolees also get their drugs for free and can go for diagnostic and laboratory testing.
“You can do your surgeries, blood transfusion, maternal and child care, caesarean section, and dental care, whether you need to do scaling and polishing or you need to extract a tooth or fill it is also covered. You can also get glasses; I mean the affordable and practical ones.
“Right now, we have covered cancer under the Standard Jaara. Also, you can have dialysis, which was not under the standard Jaara before. We have integrated telemedicine into the plan, which is something that we did not have before. So, you can either download the telemedicine app on the Play Store and you can speak to your doctor individually once you are an enrollee. You can dial the toll-free number and talk to your doctor. Or you can walk into the virtual booth, which is part of what we launched today, and get physical access, or through the telemedicine laptop.
“We have added more surgeries. Before, we didn’t have eye surgery, now we have put in cataract surgery. We have also extended the consultants that you can see. We added orthopaedic surgeons and endocrinologists and about two others that you can access.
“There are quite a lot of things that we have packaged in Standard Jaara that if you just pay this amount, which is more than N8,000, because the economy has changed, and if we are adding more benefits, you have to pay a little bit extra. But still, considering the benefits that you are getting, it is very affordable and I don’t think anybody can compete with that price,” Zamba noted.
She explained that the virtual booth complements traditional hospitals, ensuring healthcare professionals are always available. Additionally, she noted that enrolled individuals can receive free medication from partner pharmacies after consulting a doctor.
The LASHMA PS added, “When you go to the booth, if you are not an enrolee, you can register there. We have a Sterling bank room next door where you can make your payment and you’re given your necessary details so that next time you come in and are active, you can now enjoy the scheme.
“When you visit the booth, your data will be checked on the system to ensure that you are an enrollee and are active. Once you are active, you can go for a blood pressure check, blood sugar test and weight and height measurement.
“Then, if you have any complaints, you can call the doctor on the telemedicine platform and you speak to that doctor free of charge. He will diagnose what is wrong with you and give you a prescription. We have community pharmacists, about 332 pharmacies partnering with us and you can take your prescription and walk into the nearest pharmacy near you, collect those drugs free of charge simply because you are an Ilera Eko enrolee.”
The LASHMA PS added, “When you go to the booth, if you are not an enrolee, you can register there. We have a Sterling bank room next door where you can make your payment and you’re given your necessary details so that next time you come in and are active, you can now enjoy the scheme.
“When you visit the booth, your data will be checked on the system to ensure that you are an enrollee and are active. Once you are active, you can go for a blood pressure check, blood sugar test and weight and height measurement.
“Then, if you have any complaints, you can call the doctor on the telemedicine platform and you speak to that doctor free of charge. He will diagnose what is wrong with you and give you a prescription. We have community pharmacists, about 332 pharmacies partnering with us and you can take your prescription and walk into the nearest pharmacy near you, collect those drugs free of charge simply because you are an Ilera Eko enrolee.”
She explained that individuals needing additional medical care would be referred to their chosen primary healthcare provider. In emergency cases, patients would be sent to partner hospitals, with the insurance plan covering the initial 48 hours of treatment.
The doctor emphasized that enrollees must pay their premiums by the 26th of the month to access benefits from the 1st of the next month, warning that late payments would result in delayed access.
Additionally, Zamba discussed the one-year free health insurance coverage for pensioners, approved by Sanwo-Olu, and revealed that the agency is working with the Lagos State Pension Commission to register pensioners in all 57 Local Council Development Areas, with officers actively uploading their data and enrolling them in the Ilera Eko scheme.
“One per cent of the consolidated revenue fund is the equity fund. This year, Mr Governor made that equity fund a first-line charge. So with the funds that come out regularly, that is predictable, and it is guaranteed, we can cover these pensioners for the one year that he has given free of charge to them,” she mentioned.
The permanent secretary appealed Lagos State residents to prioritise their health and enrol in the insurance plan, noting that the payment plan was affordable due to government subsidies.
Zamba noted, “The truth of the matter is that you pay and keep small money aside, so that the time you need help, maybe somebody in the family is ill, you don’t have to have to look for funds, you just walk to the facility and you access to care simply because you have prepared for a rainy day. If you go into a hospital now and you want to treat malaria, the minimum payment you will make is at least N10,000 and we are asking to pay just a little bit of that with Standard JAARA and it covers you for a whole year as an individual.
“So this is a fantastic opportunity that we should key into so we can reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure, financial catastrophe of families, people losing their lives because they don’t have the cash to look after themselves.”
Further speaking at the event, a representative of Sterling Bank, Mr Adebowale Adewole, in his goodwill message highlighted that the scheme was an important step in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal three, “Good health and Well-Being.”
