Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has announced the inclusion of retirees in the state's health insurance scheme at no cost, amid rising economic pressures in Nigeria. The governor stated that the state government will fully cover the enrollment of all pensioners under the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), citing the increasing cost of medical care in old age and the growing healthcare needs of retirees.
First State to Implement New Salary Structure
Aiyedatiwa also revealed that Ondo State has become the first in the country to implement the newly approved salary structure for health workers. He emphasized that this reform would help reduce brain drain and encourage the retention of skilled professionals in the healthcare sector.
The governor made these announcements during the maiden national summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure. Speaking on the theme “Economic Realities and the Universal Health Coverage Dream: Mobilising States for Scalable Health Insurance,” Aiyedatiwa noted that the debate on healthcare financing has become more urgent due to inflationary pressures and worsening economic conditions affecting households nationwide. He highlighted that financial constraints often force families to delay seeking medical attention until conditions become severe and more costly to treat.
N1 Billion Hospital Intervention Fund
The governor also approved a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund aimed at expanding and modernizing healthcare facilities across the state. He clarified that this fund is separate from routine health expenditure and is designed to enhance hospital capacity and improve service delivery.
In his address, Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, described the summit as a timely platform to address critical challenges in Nigeria's health sector. He stated that current economic realities require states to adopt innovative financing strategies to sustain healthcare delivery, adding that reliance on traditional funding models is no longer sufficient.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, commended Ondo State for recording the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria. In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Social Health Insurance Agencies and Director-General of the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr. Kabir Mustapha, noted that the summit marked the first coordinated gathering of all state health insurance agencies and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under a unified platform.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said that rising out-of-pocket expenditure continues to expose Nigerians to financial hardship. He noted that over 90 percent of Nigerians remain outside the formal insurance system, stressing that universal health coverage is essential to protecting citizens from medical poverty.
