Sokoto to introduce health insurance

IN a bid to ensure wide access to healthcare services for its citizens, Sokoto government will introduce a state version of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said.

According to him, any policy that will ensure universal access to healthcare is commendable and should be supported to succeed.

Until its formal introduction however, wide consultations on the position of Islam on health insurance will be undertaken with religious scholars and legal experts.

Tambuwal made this known at the weekend when he received officials of NHIS who visited him in Sokoto.
  
He said the consultations become necessary so as to mobilise all stakeholders and the people of the state, in order to ensure the success of the project.

The governor disclosed that some aspects of state laws will have to be amended to accommodate the scheme. Therefore, the state government will collaborate with NHIS to meet required objectives.

He commended the NHIS for introducing state support programme, pointing out that it would bring healthcare services closer to the people.

Towards this, Tambuwal pledged to allocate a plot of land in Sokoto to the NHIS for the building of its model office in the state as requested.

Earlier, NHIS Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Akingabade, said they were in the state to intimate the governor on some of their plans and seek government support in that direction.