By Asma’u Ahmad
The Delta State Ministry of Health has generated N319 million as revenue between May 2015 and October 2016.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Asaba while fielding questions on the ministry’s activities in the last 18 months.
Dr. Azinge said the amount represented the sum total of revenue collected by the Ministry and the Hospital Management Board (HMB) during the period.
“Between May 2015 and October 2016, a revenue of over N319 million was collected by both the Ministry and the Health Management Board,” he said.
Dr. Nicolas Azinge
The commissioner also disclosed that as part of reforms and innovations in the state health sector, the Hospital Management Board would soon roll out its innovative system of revenue collection to
enhance efficiency.
“As part of measures towards enhancing efficiency, the HMB is in the process of automating collection of all its fees through an electronic system.
“This innovation would reduce fraud and other leakages in all hospitals across,” he said.
He unveiled plans for the take-off of the State Health Insurance Scheme, which would be undertaken by the Delta State Contributory Health Commission.
Dr. Azinge explained that the Health Insurance Scheme is expected to accommodate the free maternal and free under-5 healthcare programmes which will take care of vulnerable citizens of the state.
He also said the state government has commenced the provision of financial assistance to vulnerable and impoverished persons to enable them get medical care both within and outside the country.
The commissioner said N150 million was expended by the ministry between May 2015 and September 2016.
