- As it Unveils Service Charter, Bill of Rights
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, has encouraged patients in the state to always seek their rights whenever they are using any healthcare facility in the state, as these are well enshrined in the newly launched Ilera Eko Service Charter, Enrollees Handbook and Bill of Rights.
Dr Zamba said the unveiling of these documents will afford patients in the state the opportunity to ask questions on issues bothering on their rights in the healthcare delivery system.
She noted that Ilera Eko Service Charter, Enrollees Handbook and Bill of Rights were conceived based on the need to ensure that both LASHMA and health providers, deliver optimal services to the customers.
She further stated that Ilera Eko customers have a lot of rights which are unknown to many of them and that with the launch; customers will be abreast of their rights and complain when infringed upon.
The Head of Service for Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, stated that the LASHMA's decision to launch its Service Charter, Enrollees Handbook, and Bill of Rights demonstrated the organisation's commitment to serving its customers on a statewide basis and that it will be held accountable for any shortcomings in the standard of service delivery.
The launch which held on Sunday, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, had in attendance, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Abayomi, noted that the state government had made significant efforts since the Lagos State Health Scheme Law was passed in 2015 to guarantee that all residents of the state, regardless of their socio-cultural background, have access to high-quality, equitable, and reasonably priced healthcare.
He said that since the scheme's launch in 2020, the Lagos State Government has made concrete initiatives to enhance the provision of healthcare services.
These, in his opinion, include the Ilera Eko benefit package being expanded to cover additional medical issues as requested by Ilera Eko Enrollees and the introduction of numerous health providers' improvement programmes to make sure that all customers get value for their money.
While commending Ilera Eko customers for their support and continued cooperation with LASHMA, the Head of Service reminded enrollees that testimonials are key to the success of the scheme.
He said, “The implication of today's service commitment is that customers’ satisfaction must be at the forefront of all LASHMA processes and services”.
In order to collectively leave no one behind, Muri-Okunola urged philanthropists, well-known people, corporate organisations, and religious bodies in the state to enroll their families, neighbours, employees, domestic staff, and members on the scheme. He also urged Ilera Eko enrollees to spread the good news to everyone and sundry.
His words, “We cannot and must not relent till Ilera Eko becomes a household name and health insurance becomes the norm in our society. This would be in fulfilment of the agency's mantra of leaving no one behind.
“This day does not only marks a distinct milestone for the agency but also the state government's effort to ensure sustainable access to quality and affordable healthcare to the teeming Lagos population,” said Prof. Abayomi, asserting that the Ilera Eko Day is intended to celebrate and appreciate the commitments of the customers since the beginning of the scheme.
The commissioner pleaded with the Ilera Eko stakeholders to keep cooperating with the state government in order to jointly achieve the goal of “improving the delivery of effective healthcare with efficient use of finite resources”.
He urged all citizens to put their health first and purchase any of the health insurance plans of their choice, saying that the release of the three documents will undoubtedly increase residents' trust in Ilera Eko.
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