By Jumai Nwachukwu/Ifeanyi Uwagwu
AS it continues to consolidate efforts to deepen access and inclusivity in healthcare across the state, the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) has urged enrollees to report any registered health facility attempting to shortchange them.
In an exclusive interview with The Pointer, the Director-General of the commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, emphasized the importance of enrollees understanding their rights and privileges under the health insurance scheme.
He stated: “enrollees need to understand their rights and privileges when it comes to their health insurance. If you’ve purchased a policy from our scheme, take the time to read and understand what you are covered for. This way, if you are incorrectly told that a medical service isn’t covered, you can confidently dispute it.”
Dr. Akpoveta highlighted that the commission employs 350 agents, the largest network in the country, to monitor affiliated healthcare facilities. However, he stressed the need for patients to actively report any issues they encounter. He also called for synergy with the media to expose any attempts to sabotage their efforts.
He appealed to the 520 accredited health facilities to adhere strictly to the operational guidelines and tariff of the scheme, warning that there are punishments and fines for non-compliance.
“While we advise patients to know their rights and demand for it, we appeal to hospitals to follow the operational guidelines and tariff of the scheme sincerely. The law of the commission is only 25 pages and is on our website. There are punishments and fines for going against these guidelines and offenders would be punished,” Akpoveta said.
Dr. Akpoveta assured the public of the quality of healthcare delivery, noting that enrollees receive top-notch care as the facilities undergo accreditation every two years. “Hospitals that join our network must also adhere to our standards, undergoing regular reaccreditation every two years to ensure consistency in quality care. If a facility’s performance deteriorates, we provide a two-month window for improvement. If they fail to meet our standards, we take prompt action and remove them from our network, ensuring that our enrollees receive only the best care,” he explained.
