In a significant push towards modernizing its healthcare sector, the Taraba State Government has officially launched a digital referral system alongside key expansions to its health insurance program.
A Digital Leap for Healthcare Access
On Friday, December 19, 2025, Governor Agbu Kefas's administration flagged off the E-Referral and Claims Management System and the Secondary Referral Component of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (TSCHIS). The ceremony, held in Jalingo, marks a pivotal step in the state's journey to achieve universal health coverage for its residents.
Pharmacist Jacobs Akenzukpi, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (TSCHIA), spearheaded the presentation. He explained that this digital initiative is designed to drastically improve how citizens access quality medical care. The core benefits highlighted include enhanced transparency, greater operational efficiency, and stronger accountability across all levels of service delivery.
Building on a Foundation of Inclusion
Akenzukpi provided background on the agency, which was established by Law No. 6 of 2019 and began formal operations on December 3, 2020. TSCHIA's mandate is to offer financial protection and quality health services to all residents, with special focus on vulnerable groups. These priority groups include:
- Children under five years old
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
- Persons living with disabilities
- Internally displaced persons
The agency operates on a contributory funding model, receiving support from the federal government, the state government, and various development partners. To date, over 112,000 residents across all 168 political wards in Taraba have been enrolled in the scheme.
Seamless Care from Village to City Hospital
The newly launched E-Referral system is a technological backbone intended to connect the state's entire healthcare infrastructure. Taraba, with a population exceeding 3.6 million people, has 772 public primary healthcare facilities, 16 secondary facilities, and three tertiary institutions. The system will digitally link all these centers, ensuring that enrollees can be smoothly referred from one level of care to another when necessary.
"The E-referral and claims management system is inevitable in linking enrollees across the three levels of healthcare delivery," Akenzukpi stated. "It will drive efficiency, transparency, and improved access to care." He added that the innovation will enhance data management, reduce administrative costs, improve accuracy, and crucially, expand access to quality healthcare for people in rural areas.
The agency is also working to activate other health plans tailored for formal and informal sector workers to further broaden coverage across the state.
Aligning with a Broader Development Agenda
Dr. Bordiya Buma, the State Commissioner for Health, described the launch of secondary referral services as a landmark achievement. He connected it directly to Governor Agbu Kefas's Five Finger Agenda, which prioritizes human capital development and social protection.
Dr. Buma outlined the scheme's ambitious targets: expanding health insurance to cover at least 80% of the state's population, significantly reducing out-of-pocket spending on health, and improving care quality through accredited secondary facilities. He emphasized that the secondary referral component guarantees continuity of care for patients whose conditions are too complex for primary health centers, while also promoting equity and accountability.
Both officials reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to transforming Taraba into a hub for reliable healthcare. They stressed the goal of providing financial protection, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, to shield them from medical expenses that could push them into poverty.
A call to action was extended to healthcare workers to serve with professionalism and compassion. Residents were urged to enroll in the scheme, while stakeholders and development partners were appealed to for continued support in reforming the health sector. The government expressed confidence that this digital and systemic overhaul will profoundly transform healthcare delivery and improve the lives of all people in Taraba State.
