Plateau Stakeholders Commend Plateau Contributory Healthcare Scheme (PLASCHEMA)

Citizens and discussants have lauded the creation of the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency by the Plateau State Government as it provides for Contributory Healthcare Scheme for all citizens on the Plateau.

This was known, over the weekend at a town hall meeting, held by the Agency in collaboration with the television arm of the Plateau/Radio Television Corporation, PRTVC, in Jos. The program had persons present acknowledge the benefits of the health insurance scheme and called for more investment to be made in the Primary Healthcare Centres in the rural communities so as to ensure sustainability and quality service delivery.

The Director-General of the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, PLASCHEMA, Dr. Fabong Jemchang, reiterated its resolve to ensure citizens’ access to quality preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services and to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket spending on citizens.

The DG while appreciating the Government of Plateau State under the leadership of the Captain of the Rescue Team, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong KSG for the giant strides he has made in the health sector through the creation of PLASCHEMA and for living up to his promises of paying government contributions for civil servants as the employer and all counterparts funds for the Agency to take off.

He noted that the Agency has strengthened health financing by pooling resources to ensure enrollees do not suffer financial hardship when paying for health services.

“The aim of making every citizen have access to good and affordable healthcare services is being achieved as the scope of coverage has been extended to include workers in the formal and informal sectors in the State. We have enrolled more than 40,000 principals under the formal and informal sector” Dr Fabong Said

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dan Manjang who was at the event urged those yet to key into the scheme to do so given its benefits and used the opportunity to appeal to citizens to key into the laudable health care scheme.

The former Chief Medical Director, CMD, Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Professor Ishaya Pam who was the chairman of the event stressed the national health insurance scheme being replicated in states has helped in breaching the gaps in health financing. General Manager, PRTVC, Jeftha Jackden on his part added that the scheme is a commendable initiative of the government and the scheme is very effective.

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, the Rt Hon. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong KSG established the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) in 2019, with the sole aim of seeing through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of achieving universal health coverage for residents on the Plateau.