The Lagos State Government has said that it would not hesitate to sanction any of the ILERA EKO healthcare providers that run foul of the existing healthcare practices and standards.
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, who said this at Alausa, Ikeja added that the Agency had been inundated with complaints received from enrollees on healthcare providers.
She said that the State Government is doing its best to ensure that affordable and quality healthcare is provided to the residents of the State. Dr. Zamba said, “we, therefore, cannot fold our arms and allow some providers to destroy the good intention of the State Government and its determination to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”.
She noted that the complaints received from enrollees included hospitals not giving drugs, not admitting patients, not carrying out tests and collecting money from patients on some of the drugs or tests covered among others.
The General Manager added that government would not hesitate to deal decisively with any of such hospital which is giving the State Government a bad name or any hospital whose staff treats ILERA EKO enrollees with levity.
Dr. Zamba while commending the hospitals which are performing credibly well and taking care of ILERA EKO enrollees even above expectations, for a job well done, said that the Agency would ensure that quality healthcare is provided for all Lagos residents as healthy residents would be more productive and make a wealthy State.
Commending ILERA EKO enrollees for their patronage and perseverance since the Agency commenced access to care in the Year 2020, the General Manager said that not all medical conditions are covered by ILERA EKO.
She warned that no enrollee should pay for any medical condition covered such as consultation, laboratory tests, admissions for 15 days in a year, treatment of diabetes and hypertension as well as monthly refill of drugs, antenatal and delivery including caesarean section, surgeries such as herniotomy, appendectomy and herniorrhaphy.
Dr. Zamba appealed to enrollees to call the dedicated 24/7 customer service toll-free line 0800ASKLASHMA (0800275527462) or call rate applies line 0700ILERAEKO (070045372356) while at the Hospital for any complaint so that LASHMA could resolve the issue before leaving the hospital.
The General Manager said that enrollees can also send text messages only via WhatsApp to 07046160051 in case they want to obtain a benefits package, Hospital list, information, enquiry or even complaint about the health insurance plan. This information, she added is also available, as posters in the hospitals.
She urged customers to know their rights, pursue and claim them at all times as LASHMA is out to serve them better.
Dr Zamba reiterated that the new National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2022 has made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. She, therefore, appealed to Lagos residents who are yet to enrol on the health plan to do so without further delay in order to adhere to the law and reduce their out-of-pocket payment for medical bills.
The General Manager said that intending enrollees can register either at LASHMA Head Office situated at No 17, Kafi Street, Alausa, any of the LASHMA five IBILE offices covering Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe Divisions or ILERA EKO kiosks located in all the LGAs/LCDAs in the State.
She added that Lagos residents can also enroll through the ILERA EKO customer app by dialling *6700*006# on their phones or through our USSD or visit our website: www.ileraeko.com. Dr. Zamba assured that the registration and enrolment process is seamless and as such, does not take time.
The General Manager said that despite the recent complaints by a hand full of enrollees, a lot of people have benefitted from the health insurance plan and several testimonies, as well as commendations, have been received by LASHMA.
She added that in the Year 2022, the scheme has managed a large number of cases. According to her, 27,222 cases of malaria, 11,400 cases of hypertension, 3,464 diabetic cases and 185 cases of severe asthmatic attacks were treated.
Similarly, Dr. Zamba said that 3,500 visits for antenatal care were recorded out of which 2,672 babies were delivered normally on the scheme and 1,427 babies were born via a Caesarean Section. She added that 178 surgeries were also done for enrollees, 61 sickle cell patients were treated, 1,976 dental procedures were done and glasses which were recently introduced on the scheme in March 2022, have been given to 229 people.
The General Manager said that to date, about 623,000 Lagos residents were registered on the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan spread across 250 Hospitals consisting of both public and private, under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS).