By Andrew Ajijah:
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has officially flag off the State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA).
The governor, who flag of the contributory scheme at a brief ceremony held at government house Jos, said there will be special consideration for the age and pregnant women.
Launching the enrolment, governor Lalong said he will personally and closely monitor activity of the agency, as a means of ensuring that the scheme achieve it purpose.
Lalong said establishment of the agency is one of his campaign promises made to the people on health care delivery for citizens of the State.
The governor advised all citizens in the state to participate in the scheme in other to tackle preventable deaths.
According to the pioneer Director General of the agency, Dr. Fabong Jemchang, in address revealed that persons above the age of 65, pregnant women, the physically challenged, children between the age of five years and crisis displaced persons when registered with the agency shall be treated in any hospital in the state without cost.
Dr. Fabong said citizens shall be meant to registered with the agency anywhere there is internet connectivity.
He said the agency was established June 2019, and have consulted 79 stakeholders across Nigeria, visited state government with similar scheme.
According to Dr. Fabong, the PLASCHEMA hopes to deprecate the National Health Insurance scheme NHIS, which is current taking care of only federal government employees.
Contributing, Commissioner of health in the state, Dr. Nimkong Lar Ndam, in an address said the agency shall help develop a healthy workforce for government.
The health Commissioner also said the agency shall ensure accessible health care services to all irrespective of location.
The scheme covers a family of four children that the children are below 18 years.
