By Asma’u Ahmad
The Kwara State Government has inaugurated a joint health monitoring team to oversee the activities of the Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) in its efforts to improve the state’s health service delivery system.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sulaiman Alege, who inaugurated the committee in Ilorin, said government wanted the committee to interface between it and health insurance providers on behalf of patients to ensure that the latter enjoyed quality service delivery.
He said that the committee, among others, would monitor and review activities as they relate to the operations and service delivery of health providers participating in the CHIS in the state.
He added that it would provide the committee with an insight on challenges being experienced, as well as assist it to proffer best possible suggestions on how to mitigate them.
He said the committee will act as representative of the ministry in enrollment meetings with a view to knowing the progress of the scheme.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Abdulsalam Yussuf, noted that part of the committee’s responsibilities “is to report poor service delivery, gaps in quality and facilities at health institutions to the appropriate authorities for necessary intervention.”
Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, Dr. Stephen Arigidi, who is the Chairman of the committee, pledged members’ commitment to service.
