Stakeholders in the health sector have expressed concern over persistent deficiencies in data needed for quality health care decision-making and delivery.

The stakeholders expressed concern at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting by the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC), which had in attendance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers, and other critical stakeholders from the 18 local council areas.

The Guardian reports that the meeting served as a strategic platform to assess performance, interrogate existing operational gaps, and align stakeholders on priority actions required to drive improved health outcomes across the state.

The health experts, who described data as indispensable for informed decision-making, underscored the centrality of accurate, timely data for effective planning, policy formulation, and equitable service delivery.

In her welcome address, the Director-General of EDOHIC, Dr Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, expressed satisfaction with the improvements she observed during her supervisory visits across Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and attributed them to the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led Edo State Government’s SHINE Agenda.

She noted that strengthening health systems and expanding access to quality care remain pivotal to achieving sustainable development outcomes.

“Data remains the backbone of our operations. It is indispensable for informed decision-making, resource allocation, and ensuring that healthcare services are delivered efficiently to the most vulnerable populations,” she stated.

Providing a comprehensive review of performance across the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2025, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Owen Omorogbe, highlighted key intervention programmes, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the State Equity Programme.

He outlined critical performance indicators such as business plan submissions, supervisory activities, service utilisation, implementation of improvement plans, and, notably, data reporting standards.