Tag: ASHIA

By Chisom Okafor :

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has taken a significant step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by launching its 2025–2029 Strategic Health Development Plan (SHDP) during the commemoration of Universal Health Coverage Day 2024. The initiative reflects ASHIA’s dedication to ensuring access to quality and affordable healthcare for all residents of the state.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, Managing Director of ASHIA, highlighted the importance of UHC, describing it as the ability of all individuals to access essential healthcare services without financial hardship. He commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for his unwavering support, which has enabled the agency to achieve milestones since its establishment. 

Dr. Onyemaechi said that ASHIA has already enrolled over 230,000 active beneficiaries in its health insurance scheme and aimed to cover 90% of Anambra’s population by 2030 through the newly launched SHDP.

The 2025–2029 SHDP provides a roadmap for expanding health insurance coverage, improving service quality, and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare financing in the state. It aligns with Nigeria’s national goal of achieving UHC by 2030 and sets a precedence for other subnational efforts in healthcare reform.

Representing the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, praised ASHIA’s efforts in enhancing healthcare delivery and urged Ndi Anambra to embrace the insurance scheme for better health outcomes.

Hon. Tony Muobike, Chairman of the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Health, described the SHDP as a transformational initiative and assured legislative support to facilitate its successful implementation.

The event also featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders, including representatives from Civil Society Organizations, National Health Insurance Authority, World Health Organization (WHO), and State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Each commended ASHIA for its forward-thinking approach to healthcare.

The launch of the Strategic Health Development Plan marked the climax of the ceremony, reinforcing Anambra State’s commitment to building a robust and inclusive healthcare system. With this plan, ASHIA aims to improve health outcomes, enhance equity, and provide financial protection for residents as the state advances toward achieving UHC by 2030.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

By Chisom Okafor :

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has conducted a sensitization session for students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam campus, on the benefits of the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP).

Speaking at the event, ASHIA’s Managing Director, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, highlighted the agency’s earlier sensitization efforts at the Uli campus and praised the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, for her proactive approach, noting that Prof. Omenugha engaged ASHIA to ensure that students from all campuses, including Awka, benefit from TISHIP, which provides access to quality healthcare both on and off campus.

Dr. Onyemaechi explained that students requiring specialized care beyond the university’s medical centers can be referred to ASHIA’s secondary healthcare facilities. He commended Prof. Omenugha for implementing the program without imposing additional costs on students.

The ASHIA boss assured the students that the program would improve their healthcare access and eliminate situations where medical fees included in tuition go unused. He revealed that ASHIA has already assessed equipment needs at the Uli and Igbariam medical centers and will supply the necessary items to enhance service delivery.

Currently, over 231,000 Anambra residents are enrolled in ASHIA’s scheme. Dr. Onyemaechi encouraged the students to familiarize themselves with their entitlements under the program, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to providing them with quality healthcare.

Mr. Josephat Ezehiri, the university’s Students’ Attorney General, expressed gratitude to ASHIA, noting that the program would alleviate the financial burden of healthcare on students and ensure they receive adequate medical attention.

This initiative further underscores ASHIA’s mission to make quality healthcare accessible to all Anambra residents, including students.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

By Chisom Okafor :

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has been celebrated as the Most Innovative Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) in Anambra State during the recently concluded Anambra Innovation Week (AIW) program. This distinguished recognition highlights ASHIA’s outstanding use of digital technology to enhance its operations and improve healthcare service delivery across the state.

In addition to the prestigious award, ASHIA received a cash prize of  N2million as part of the honor. 

Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, who was present at the award ceremony, lauded ASHIA for setting a high standard in service delivery and contributing significantly to his administration’s vision of making Anambra a model state for quality and affordable healthcare.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, expressed profound gratitude to the dedicated ASHIA team for their relentless efforts in driving innovation within the agency. He emphasized that the adoption of cutting-edge technology has not only transformed the internal processes of ASHIA but has also played a critical role in expanding access to quality healthcare services for the residents of Anambra State.

Dr. Onyemaechi attributed the success of the agency to the commitment of the Anambra State Government under the leadership of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo. He commended the governor’s support and investment in innovative solutions that strengthens the healthcare system. 

The AIW program, which celebrates creativity and innovation in solving societal challenges, provided a platform to showcase ASHIA’s efforts in leveraging technology for health insurance coverage. The agency’s initiatives, including the seamless enrollment process, efficient claim management, and transparency in service delivery, were noted as benchmarks of excellence.

This recognition further solidifies ASHIA’s position as a trailblazer in healthcare innovation. The agency’s commitment to utilizing modern tools and techniques to meet the health insurance needs of the people of Anambra State demonstrates its dedication to excellence. By prioritizing accessibility and quality, ASHIA continues to enhance the health and well-being of its beneficiaries, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic growth of the state.

*Okafor is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

By Chisom Okafor :

The Managing Director of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, has presented beneficiary identity cards to the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Youth Empowerment Programme, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, for the 21 executive members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from Nnobi Ward One. 

Additionally, Dr. Onyemaechi provided 21 pamphlets outlining the benefit package to ensure that the beneficiaries are fully informed and receive their entitled benefits.

During the card presentation at the ASHIA complex, Awka, Dr Onyemaechi, noted that the scheme has remained instrumental to quality and affordable healthcare services in Anambra.

He appreciated Dr Omenugha for the gesture and encouraged the beneficiaries to access the services and give feedback to the agency to enable them serve Ndi Anambra better.

Receiving the cards, Dr Omenugha, emphasized his interest in ensuring productivity through properly taking care of the people doing the work and his deepest concern on healthy living of his people. 

He noted that getting his ward executive members enrolled into ASHIA is part of his contributions to the growth of APGA, good governance and Anambra State in general.

The Chairman of APGA, Nnobi ward one, Chief Frank-Iyke Ezeanya, in a vote of thanks appreciated Dr Omenugha for his support and Dr Onyemaechi for the good job he is doing in ASHIA.

He promised greater commitment to mobilizing support for Governor Soludo, growth of APGA and the state at large.

*Okafor is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

By Chisom Okafor  :

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), has inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising of key stakeholders on health to plan and develop a Strategic Health Development Plan that will last from 2024 to 2029. 

 The two day workshop took place at IDK learning Centre in Awka. 

Declaring the event open, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike explained the importance of the TWG to think through on how to expand the health insurance coverage of the state particularly the informal sector and how to implement the mandatoriness of the scheme through innovative strategies of businesses providing evidence of health insurance certification before they can operate. 

Dr. Obidike applauded the MD/CEO of ASHIA for representing the health insurance agency in Anambra and nationwide. 

On his part, the Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Tony Muobike, spoke on success achieved with a predetermined plan (SHDP) and a strong legislative framework as the bedrock of every project. 

He gave his support by promising necessary legislation with the House of Assembly or draft new legislations that will be passed in the House of assembly. 

Giving an overview of the workshop, the Managing Director of ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi said that the plan will look carefully at how the agency will strategically increase their coverage to enroll more into the scheme, the practical steps they need to take to achieve their objectives. 

Dr. Onyemaechi noted that because the staff of the agency are integral part of the stakeholders developing the plan, they will have an institutionalize memory of the document even when he must have exited the position in the future, expressing optimism that his would be successor will continue with the plan. 

According to the ASHIA MD, the plan will equally bring out the practical steps they need to take on month-to-month and year -to-year bases, how to source the resources they will leverage on among others, describing the document as timely. 

The event attracted relevant stakeholders, representatives of the National Health Insurance Agency, WHO, Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, State Bureau of Statistics, Research Consultants, Ward Chairmen, Civil Society Organizations, others. 

 *Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

By Chisom Okafor   :

The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage team, understudies the State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) in a bid to improve the operations of their Health Insurance Scheme.

The Delegates from Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) paid a visit to ASHIA office in Awka to understudy the operations of the Scheme with a specific focus on the Claims management system for the Basic Healthcare provision fund (BHCPF) program and other programmes of ASHIA.

The Managing Director of ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi while receiving the two-man delegation assured that they will be adequately equipped with knowledge of Health Insurance practice, Claims management as well as the background of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

He gave them the general overview of Health insurance as it is practiced globally, then narrowed it down to the national and state health insurance schemes operations in Nigeria.

The MD, who spoke on the background of the BHCPF said that National Health Act 2014 in section 11 provides for a minimum of 1% of consolidated revenue of the Federal Government to be set aside to provide basic minimum package of health services to all Nigerians.

He further explained that the bodies charged with the mandate to implement this federal government policy include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) through their subnational equivalence.

Dr. Onyemaechi noted that Claims Management begins from when the enrollee is still at the hospital, adding that every Claim starts with pre authorization code request that is sent when the request is approved and service rendered then Claims for payment are sent to the Agency at the end of every month.

He assured the visitors that the ASHIA team would provide them with all the knowledge they require.

 “We just don’t teach theory , my team will show you the practical aspects, you will also visit some of our healthcare providers to get  on-site hands-on experience.

He encouraged them to have an open mind and feel free to ask all the questions they had regarding Health Insurance and BHCPF programmes.

The Leader of the team, Dr. Marcus Agu, on behalf of the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, extended his appreciation to the MD for the opportunity to meet with him personally, and assured him of their willingness to learn from him.

Present at the meeting includes Dr. Mary Chukwuma, a member of the Enugu State delegates and ASHIA Heads of Departments.

 *Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.