By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Two hospitals in Anambra State have been delisted for extorting enrollees of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).

Confirming this development to journalists in Awka, the Managing Director of ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, said the agency was not indebted to any hospital under the scheme, and wondered why any would extort money from patients under the scheme.

He said: “We have sanctioned two hospitals this year for demanding extra money from ASHIA patients for services covered by the health insurance scheme.

“The government has never defaulted in the payment of capitation to hospitals rendering services to ASHIA enrollees.

“We are worried that in spite of all the sensitisation efforts on both social and traditional media, people are still being exploited by some hospitals under the scheme.”

Recall that ASHIA was the brain child of former Governor Willie Obiano, which he established to help citizens of the state with health issues to easily access healthcare.

The scheme was originally established for staff of the Anambra State government, but was later made opened to private individuals.

“We have sanctioned two hospitals this year for demanding extra money from ASHIA patients for services covered by the health insurance scheme.

“The government has never defaulted in the payment of capitation to hospitals rendering services to ASHIA enrollees.

“We are worried that in spite of all the sensitisation efforts on both social and traditional media, people are still being exploited by some hospitals under the scheme", Onyemaechi added.

The scheme became very popular and admired by many state governments, coming from their various states to understudy its success, with the goal of replicating it in their states.

Onyemaechi who has been the ASHIA Managing Director from inception said the agency has persistently advised enrollees of the health scheme to always report cases of exploitation through the phone numbers on the cards.

He added, “We will not hesitate to delist health facilities involved in the exploitation and maltreatment of beneficiaries of the State Health Insurance Scheme.

"We have delisted two hospitals this year for demanding extra charges for treatment of ailments covered by ASHIA."

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