The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) says the N750 health insurance capitation approved by the Lagos government is not ideal for effectively providing quality healthcare services to residents.
ANPMP’s chair in Lagos, Jonathan Esegine, said this on the sidelines of the association’s Gala and Awards Ceremony on Saturday in Lagos.
Mr Esegine said financing of healthcare delivery must be realistic and seamless to ensure efficient healthcare delivery.
According to him, the state government’s approval of the N750 capitation cannot sustain the service.
Capitation is a payment model in healthcare where a provider is paid a set amount for each patient they are assigned to, regardless of whether the patient seeks care.
Mr Esegine said Lagos was previously paying N350 capitation per month for the treatment of enrollees under the state’s health insurance programme (Ilera Eko), emphasising that health providers were not enthusiastic about the plan.
“We told the government so, initially, they didn’t want to listen, but they have seen the reality, and they have brought it up to N750.
“It is still not ideal. But our attitude to it is that at least the government is beginning to listen. We don’t have to wait until it is perfect before we participate, so we are changing our attitude.
“I think at this point we can collaborate with the government because we are also interested in the well-being of the people,” Mr Esegine explained.
He added, “So, for that reason, we encourage our members to come into the scheme and hope that as we get more people enrolled, the costs will increase and then the remuneration will also improve.”
Speaking on the Gala and Award ceremony, Mr Esegine said the annual event was to wine, dine, socialise and celebrate past leaders’ contributions to the association’s development.
Emmanuella Zamba, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), called for improved participation of private health providers in the state health insurance scheme.
Ms Zamba said the government had evolved programmes to empower and incentivise providers, stressing that the government cannot do it alone. According to her, the Lagos government has approved the increase of capitation to N750 per person per month and the fees for service by 30 per cent.
She appealed to ANPMP members to join the government in its effort to achieve universal health coverage in the state.
(NAN)