The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has commenced a statewide facilities readiness assessment across all ILERA EKO empaneled hospitals in preparation for enforcing the Executive Order on Mandatory Social Health Insurance in Lagos State.
Speaking in Alausa, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Emmanuella Zamba, said the exercise began with public health facilities, including general hospitals and primary health centres, as well as selected high-traffic private hospitals under the ILERA EKO scheme.
Dr. Zamba explained that the assessment is aimed at evaluating compliance, identifying gaps, and ensuring hospitals are equipped to enroll residents who are not yet registered under the scheme, while also capturing vulnerable groups for access to equitable healthcare services.
She noted that facilities are expected to meet key requirements such as designated ILERA EKO desk officers, availability of screening tools for vulnerable patients, clear signage, complaint resolution procedures, and operational systems to support seamless service delivery.
The initiative, she said, aligns with the Lagos State Government’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by ensuring residents can access quality healthcare without financial hardship, adding that continuous monitoring will sustain improvements in service delivery.
Dr. Zamba urged residents to enroll in the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan, which covers a significant portion of common healthcare needs, while reaffirming LASHMA’s commitment to collaborating with healthcare providers and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.