National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has successfully enrolled no fewer than 1,099 retired police personnel in Bauchi state in its bid to extend affordable healthcare to the most vulnerable groups in the society.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Scheme, Professor Mohammed Nasir Sambo, who disclosed this shortly after the exercise in Bauchi said the feat was part of the ongoing nationwide enrolment of retired police officers and their spouses by the NHIS in collaboration with the Nigerian Police.
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The retirees in Bauchi were registered in the five Area Commands of the Police in Bauchi, Azare (Katagum), Misau, Ningi and Toro LGAs.
Represented by the acting General Manager, Human Resources and Administration, Sani Garba Affa, Sambo said the exercise was in line with the Scheme’s three-point rebranding agenda of value re-orientation, transparency and accountability, and accelerating drive towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He explained that achieving UHC would not be feasible without health insurance coverage for the most vulnerable populations in the society.
“The ongoing enrolment will improve access to health care and protect the senior citizens, who have served the country well, from the financial risks of diseases,” he said.
He disclosed that the Scheme was working toward creating various platforms for other vulnerable populations groups in the country.
He commended the Bauchi State Police Command for the cooperation and appealed to the retired police personnel to use the opportunity and enroll along with their spouses in order reduce the burden of healthcare out-of-pocket expenditure in retirement.