By Asma’u Ahmad
The Kaduna State Government said it would soon introduce a Contributory Health Scheme, to ensure universal access to healthcare by residents.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Kaduna by Special Assistant to Governor Nasiru El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.
Newsmen report that the state currently runs a free healthcare programme for pregnant women, children under five and the elderly.
“The proposed scheme is designed to widen the net of coverage, and ensure that all residents of the state, including the poor and vulnerable, have access to healthcare without incurring out-of-pocket expenditure.
“This scheme removes the financial barriers to healthcare that often exclude the poor and vulnerable who cannot afford the out-of-pocket expenditure hospital treatment currently requires. The objective is to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all,” the statement said.
Our source report that the State Executive Council endorsed the scheme on Monday.
The statement said that the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Dogo, had been directed to forward a bill on the scheme to the State House of Assembly for ratification.
“The provisions in the draft bill for the establishment of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme is such that out-of-pocket expenditure is completely removed.
“So there will be no financial impediment to healthcare, as basic healthcare package will be provided to all citizens of Kaduna state with little contributions from residents,“ the statement added.
Mr. Aruwan said that the state government would collaborate with the National Health Insurance Scheme for technical support.
