As governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo first term of four years administration set to expire on 17th March, 2026, the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), has announced it increased reserved funds of N5.4 billion within the period under review, adding to N1.7 billion reserved from the previous administration of Chief Willie Obiano, total N7.1 billion since it establishment.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, who disclosed this while speaking to Journalists at his office in Awka, on Wednesday, also announced increased enrollment figured of 330,000 persons within the period as against 140,901from previous government.
Onyemaechi attributed the improved achievements to governor Soludo’s unwavering commitment towards quality healthcare delivery service to the people of Anambra State.
According to him, at the start of governor Soludo assumption of office in March 17, 2022, ASHIA has an enrollment figure of 140,901 persons, as of today, the agency have a recorded enrollment number of about 330,000 persons, which is about 140 percent increment in terms of absolute enrichment growth for ASHIA.
“Under my watch, we have also introduce others healthcare services such as; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to scan and investigate cases of infidelity among couples, Orthopedic services and prostrate surgery services etc.
“The cost of all items in Nigeria between when governor Soludo assumed office has gone up but the premium for ASHIA has remained at solution’s fixed price of N12,000, because the governor put it feet down that ASHIA established by the former governor, Willie Obiano will remain accessible for Ndi-Anambra.
“The state government subsidized it heavily to make ASHIA to be within the reach of Anambra residents irrespective of tribe, ethnic and religion affiliations.
“Meanwhile, keeping the premium at N12,000 annually for the beneficiaries, we have in the past three years and eleven months revive our tariff we paid to our providers at least eight times. Our capitation then use to be N450, but today, we paid N600 as capitation, that is 25 percent increment on capitation. While on the fees for services, we paid where the enrolled beneficiaries go to access secondary and tertiary care in their various registered hospitals. We have also revived it at least eight different times and every quarter, we revived our tariff to increasingly match current market realities, yet the premium the enrollees have to pay as beneficiaries to be in ASHIA has remained at that N12,000, which is a big achievement for Soludo’s administration in the health sector.
“On the side of financial sustainability of the agency, Onyemaechi revealed that as at March 17, 2022, when governor Soludo assumed office, ASHIA have a reservation fund of about N1.7 billion, but as of today, February 26th, 2026, we have recorded an increased reserve fund of N7.1 billion, meaning that the resources of ASHIA has proudly grow to about 500 percent reserved, a huge applaud to governor Soludo.
“We are building a strong health institution, unforgettable legacy for the future, especially, for those who will take over from us, when we exit the staged. We have banqueted to them a human resources of “Know what to do with” to keep ASHIA afloat, that is the solution effect, doing more with less.
“ASHIA was established then, under the administration of Chief Willie Obiano to enable Anambra citizens especially, the downtrodden to access quality health care services at any selected health facility of their choice at very little cost.
“We made it clear that beneficiaries with ASHIA identity card should not pay consultancy or registration fees of any kind and should not also pay for laboratory services to diagnose their type of ailments while ASHIA also covers fifteen days of admission in hospital and twenty-one days in surgery related admissions.
“The Agency help to link beneficiaries to hospitals where they could access treatment for illnesses not covered in the policy at reduced cost.
“Under my watch, we also adopted a model where privileged individuals pay for under privileged individuals, which presently being emulated by many states in Nigeria including Oyo, Osun, Nasarawa, Delta and others while the National Health Insurance Administration Bill before the National Assembly contains the adoption model as a method of getting informal sector to participate actively in the scheme.
The Agency was established by the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme Law 2016, aimed to provide mandatory Health Insurance which shall entitle the insured persons to the benefits of prescribed good quality and cost-effective health services as set out in the service delivery package.
“We are mandated by the law to provide quality healthcare that is efficient, equitable, affordable and accessible to all residents of Anambra State.
“Promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care are included in our range of services, which could be medical or surgical as determined by enrollees need.
The vision is to increase social health insurance as a proportion of total health expenditure from less than 1% in 2017 in Anambra State to at least 90% by 2030.
“Strategic purchasing of quality health care services for all residents of Anambra State in a pre-payment model from equitably distributed network of standard facilities managed in a digitalized system in a manner that positions the State to achieve the SDGs Universal Health Coverage target.
“Our principal objective is to promote, regulate, supervise, implement and ensure the effective administration of the Agency in the state.
The ASHIA boss also used the opportunity to commend the wife of the governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo for her continue healthy lifestyle advocacy in the state through her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, which he said is impacting positively on lives of the people.
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