Senator Representing Plateau North in the National Assembly and Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Istifanus Gyang has voted the sum of One Million Naira as Premium for IDPs in his Constituency in the Plateau State version of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Senator made the disclosure during a visit by the Director General of the Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLACHEMA), Dr. Jemchang Fabong in Jos.
Doctor Fabong briefed Senator Gyang on the Plateau State Equity Health Plan which targets both vulnerable and indigent persons and groups in both the formal and informal sectors at the rates of N14,000 and N12,000 respectively.
Dr. Fabong says his Agency has the core mandate of ensuring that all people have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services. The agency, according to him, is poised to strengthen health financing by pooling resources through premium payments and providing equitable health services through health insurance.
Responding, Senator Gyang welcone the establishment of PLASCHEMA particularly as it will address the twin issues of availability and accessibility to health care services by citizens on a sustained basis, the vulnerable and indigent inclusive. He made an offer to pay an initial premium of One Million Naira for IDPs, being the most vulnerable persons in his Constituency covering B/Ladi, Riyom and Miango axis of Bassa LGA.
The Senator expressed concern over the poor budgetary allocation to the health sector over the years and stressed the need for government to accede to calls for increase investment in the health and well being of the people.
