If the promise of the Federal Government is anything to go by, formal sector retirees will soon have the benefit of retaining their National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) up till the age of 70 years before switching-over to the National Non-Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
Osagie Ehanire, minister of health made the disclosure at the first International Training of Trainers in Geriatric and the launch of the Elderly Friendly Hospitals Initiative (ELDFRHI), at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Ehanire said the Federal Government is working with the National Pension Commission, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in achieving the promise.
He also revealed that plans are underway to review the user guide of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to aid provision of affordable healthcare through the National Health Insurance Scheme gateway for elderly persons across the country.
He explained that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is targeted at reducing out of pocket expenses and providing affordable and quality healthcare for Nigerians.
The minister who spoke on the theme, “Achieving Quality Healthcare for elderly in Africa”, noted that (BHCPF) was timely because it places emphasis on the problems connected with the health of elderly persons in Africa, and the need to focus on reducing their health challenges.
“As part of the programme, I shall today be launching the Elder Friendly Hospital Initiative, that addresses the personal care and the environmental needs of the elderly, ensuring that amenities in facilities are tailored to their peculiar needs.
“This is significant because a key challenge to ensuring healthy ageing is the lack of trained personnel to meet the specific needs of senior citizens, which this programme addresses.
“As part of efforts to ensure implementation of the President’s health sector agenda, we are currently reviewing the Operational manual of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), to accommodate provision of affordable health insurance through the National Health Insurance Scheme gateway, whereby all senior citizens seventy years of age and beyond, are covered in the scheme for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Earlier, in his address, Darlington Obaseki chief medical director, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, said the training and retraining of healthcare providers was proactive steps to solve manpower future needs that may arise.
According to him, UBTH is taking the lead in providing relevant and affordable training of international standard to multi-disciplinary professionals drawn from the three levels of the health sector (primary, secondary, tertiary), private sectors and related disciplines.
Obaseki said, “Geriatrics services in UBTH have impacted greatly on the health of older persons, such that the 15-bedded ward has increased to 20, yet utilization demand by older persons and their relatives keeps increasing, thereby creating a strong need for a comprehensive geriatric centre with expanded space and improved equipment.
