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To Clampdown On Erring Hospitals Under DSCHC
BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
IN a renewed effort to ensure effective healthcare delivery and safeguard the rights of enrollees under the state’s health insurance scheme, the Delta State Head of Service (HOS) has partnered with the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) to identify and sanction health facilities that deny enrollees access to quality healthcare services.
This initiative was announced during a courtesy visit by the DSCHC Board members, led by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Austin Obidi, to the State Head of Service, Dr. Mininim Oseji, in her office.
In her remarks, Dr. Oseji commended the Board for its recent efforts to hold health facilities accountable for failing to provide services to enrollees. She described such actions as “fraud against humanity.”
According to her, the essence of the Contributory Health Scheme was to ensure that every civil servant and other enrollees receive the healthcare they were entitled to. She stressed that the state government will not tolerate any facility that violates the rules or denies enrollees quality care.
Dr. Oseji, while addressing members of the Commission’s Board, emphasized that while the state government was committed to ensuring all Deltans had access to quality healthcare, some facilities were making this goal difficult to achieve.
She pledged her full support to the board in identifying and sanctioning facilities that collect funds from the scheme but failed to deliver the required services. She warned that any facility found culpable will face legal consequences.
The Head of Service also expressed deep concern over the increasing number of reports regarding enrollees being turned away or subjected to substandard care in some accredited facilities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Austin Obidi, accompanied by the Director-General, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, and other stakeholders from MDAs and labour unions, used the visit to congratulate Dr. Oseji on her appointment as Head of Service and to commend her active involvement in the health scheme.
He assured her of the board unwavering commitment to ensuring that no Deltan, including residents, was left out of the scheme’s benefits.
In his remarks, Dr. Akpoveta praised Dr. Oseji for her transparency and willingness to collaborate in ensuring that facilities denying care to enrollees were held accountable. He also noted the challenges the commission was facing with some healthcare providers and assured her that corrective steps were being taken.
To strengthen monitoring and enforcement, Dr. Akpoveta revealed that the Commission has deployed over 300 service quality monitors across the state, including pharmacies, laboratories, and consulting rooms in registered facilities to track how enrollees were treated and report incidents in real time.
“The Commission has been receiving complaints from enrollees across various senatorial districts about health facilities refusing to provide services covered under the scheme,” he said. “This partnership with the Head of Service will enhance enforcement and ensure that erring providers are brought to book”, he said.
