BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
THE Director-General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr. Isaac Akpoveta has called on the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Delta state chapter, to help restore the integrity of the state’s health insurance scheme and uphold its original mission of serving the people.
Dr. Akpoveta made the call during a courtesy visit by members of the NMA, who came to show their support and align with the commission’s vision to ensure that all Deltans are registered and have access to quality healthcare.
In his remarks, Dr. Akpoveta highlighted the commission’s notable achievements, revealing that over 2.6 million patients have been enrolled in the scheme. He further disclosed that the commission has disbursed ₦16 billion to hospitals for both capital projects and service delivery, with ₦2.6 billion specifically directed toward upgrading health facilities. Despite these strides, Dr. Akpoveta expressed concern over emerging challenges, particularly unethical practices among some service providers.
“We have documented cases where pregnant women were asked to pay even with valid health insurance cards. Some providers charged ₦80,000 for appendicitis and ₦450,000 for caesarean sections, procedures that should be fully covered by the scheme,” he said. “In some hospitals, over 70 patients have already been refunded. These incidents are eroding public trust in the system and in government.”
He emphasized that the scheme is a social health insurance program, not a profit-driven enterprise. He questioned why some healthcare providers already salaried by the government, would charge patients the government has already paid for.
“Is there any profit-sharing for doctors or hospitals at the end of the year? No,” he stated. “So why pursue profits in a system not built for it?”
Dr. Akpoveta appealed to the NMA leadership to convene a meeting with all medical directors and heads of nursing units to reinforce accountability and commitment to the health and wellbeing of enrollees.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NMA Delta State chapter, Dr. Israel Adaigo, affirmed the association’s readiness to collaborate with the commission in promoting the health of Deltans.
Following a tour of the commission’s facilities, Dr. Adaigo expressed satisfaction with its operations and reiterated that the scheme has been a blessing to the people of Delta State. He also called for: An upgrade of the scheme for doctors; increased community outreach; Infrastructure support, and Advocacy during the 2025 NMA Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for the month of August.
Dr. Adaigo commended Dr. Akpoveta’s leadership and assured that the NMA stands ready to collaborate in ensuring the continued success of the health insurance scheme.
