Lagos partners First Bank to promote access to affordable healthcare
The Lagos State Health Management Agency ( LASHMA), in its commitment to ensuring that residents at the grassroots have access to affordable, effective and quality healthcare, is partnering with First Bank of Nigeria Limited to utilise its 6,000 Firstmonie Agents as payment channels for the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS).
The general manager of LASHMA), Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this at the flag off of the partnership in Ikeja, saying that the partnership became necessary to facilitate ease of health insurance premium transactions for residents, especially at the grassroots.
She noted that First Bank was selected for the partnership in recognition of its effectiveness, efficiency and large clientele base.
“The agency realised that not all residents can go to the Bank or use online platforms for the payment of their health insurance premiums, hence the agency identified the need for other payment platforms such as the Firstmonie Agents”, Zamba explained.
Asserting that the partnership would avail residents the opportunity to pay either N40,000 annually for family plan or N8,500 annually for individual plan through any of the Firstmonie Agents, the general manager said that once the insurance premium is paid before 25th of every month, such enrollee can receive care from the first day of the following month at any public or private hospital of their choice within the scheme’s network of providers.
While commending the gesture of First Bank, Zamba urged other corporate and multinational organisations to support the agency towards ensuring that Lagos residents, irrespective of their tribal, cultural or religious differences, access quality healthcare.
She disclosed that efforts are being intensified to ensure that residents can also enrol for the scheme at any of the Firstmonie Agents situated within their localities.
The deputy managing director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Shobo, who commended the Lagos State government for its determination in ensuring the good health and wellbeing of all residents, said “the initiative will have a crucial role at improving the life expectancy of Lagos residents, whilst promoting their increased contribution to the growth and development of the State”.
He implored residents not to hesitate to pay their health insurance premiums at any of the Firstmonie Agents located in all the local governments and local council development areas in the State in order to have their health secured.
Shobo implored residents in the State to register and enrol on the Scheme in order to enjoy the good gesture of the present administration led by Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu.