Aiyedatiwa unveils N1bn hospital fund, free health insurance for retirees
By Boye Oyeyemi
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday unveiled a one billion naira Hospital Intervention Fund and announced free health insurance coverage for retirees.
The governor made the announcement at the maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies held in Akure, where stakeholders from across the country gathered to discuss strategies for achieving universal health coverage amid prevailing economic challenges.
Aiyedatiwa said access to healthcare should not be determined by an individual’s financial status, noting that many families delay seeking medical attention because of rising treatment costs and economic hardship.
“Social health insurance remains one of the most effective tools for protecting citizens from catastrophic health expenses and ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of income,” he said.
The governor further disclosed that retirees had been formally included in the state’s Orange Health Insurance Scheme, with the government assuming full responsibility for their enrolment to ease the burden of medical expenses in old age.
He also revealed that Ondo had become the first state in Nigeria to implement the newly approved salary structure for health workers, describing the move as a strategy to improve welfare, reduce brain drain and retain skilled professionals in the health sector.
“The one billion naira Hospital Intervention Fund is designed to strengthen and modernise our health facilities, improve service delivery and expand the capacity of hospitals across the state. This is separate from routine health sector funding,” Aiyedatiwa added.
In separate remarks, Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, and the Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr Oyebanji Filani, commended ongoing healthcare reforms in the state, with Filani noting that Ondo currently records some of the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in the country.
