Harsh Economy:  Osun OHIS Partners Health Institutions

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Osun State Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) has partnered over 432 healthcare facilities across the state.

The media aide to the state governor, Mr. Sarafa Ibrahim, in a statement issued and made available to THISDAY yesterday said: “The list of healthcare facilities comprises 332 focal primary healthcare facilities, 17 public healthcare facilities inclusive of the University of Osun Teaching Hospital formerly known as LAUTECH, and 82 accredited private healthcare facilities.”

He said what this means was that “wherever you are in Osun State, you will be able to access the services offered by the OHIS.”

According to him “The prevailing economic situation has given rise to a raging question about access to quality healthcare. Rising costs of normal day-to-day necessities like food and transportation mean that for many, there is not as much money left to take care of their health. And to compound the problem is the astronomical increase in the cost of drugs and medical care, putting a lot of people in dilemma on how to meet their healthcare needs.

“Of course, this is a troubling situation and will most definitely trigger the wave of concerns that funding healthcare at a time like this has provoked. But looking broadly, especially in Osun State, there is an option available for the people to explore for qualitative healthcare. And this is not something complex or requiring much effort to do, yet it is a definite answer to the question of accessing healthcare.”

He stressed that “I’m sure that that would be the question raging your mind. But the answer is in plain sight, although, only a few people pay attention to it. This is no other but the OHIS, a simple and comprehensive healthcare coverage for the people.

“OHIS is a short form for the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, and in a real sense, it offers a lifetime opportunity to prospective subscribers to enjoy qualitative healthcare. OHIS was established in Osun State in 2018 and structured to avail individuals and families with a partner that shares the burden of their healthcare needs with them. Yes, you heard me right, a partner or maybe, a buddy that is tasked with getting you the healthcare needs you deserve.

“The good thing about this partnership is that it is reliable, dependable, and extremely cheap. Yet, OHIS shares the substantial costs of funding your healthcare, totally eliminating the pressure of healthcare on subscribers. To put things in the right perspective, OHIS will bear the burden of at least 90 percent of your healthcare costs at any given time, while you pay for the balance 10 percent.”

 He added: “Let us, for instance, assume that the cost of a caesarian operation is N300,000, then what an active subscriber on the OHIS plan will be required to pay will not exceed N30,000 in any registered medical centre while the OHIS pays the balance of N270,000. And this does not stop with medical bills, but the coverage of OHIS extends to the cost of drugs, which just like medical bills, will only cost subscribers 10 percent of the total cost.”

The media guru noted that “with N57,600, a family of six can get the benefit of good healthcare for a whole year on the family package. This means that the father, mother, and four biological children or legally adopted under the age of 18 years will be covered by the OHIS plan for one year that the subscription will last. Isn’t that incredible?”

“What the above simply pointed out is that, while maintaining your health could be costly, the OHIS is offering to share in the burden just to ensure you stay healthy. As an enrollee, you will no longer have to worry about how to handle the bill for your health needs or any of your family members included as a beneficiary for basic ailment, because OHIS got you covered.”