The Kano State House of Assembly has pledged to initiate necessary amendments to the Kano State Contributory Health Management Agency (KSCHMA) law to make the scheme more efficient, accountable and responsive to the healthcare needs of the people.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Right Hon. Jibril Falgore represented by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Butu Butu, gave the assurance while declaring open a one-day technical stakeholders’ workshop on the proposed KSCHMA healthcare financing reforms held at Bafra Hotel, Kaduna.
He said the proposed amendments would be guided by rational and actionable recommendations from key stakeholders, stressing that the ultimate objective was to build a health financing system that would deliver quality and affordable healthcare to the people.
The Speaker underscored the critical role of a functional health system in promoting a healthy and productive population, noting that no society could achieve sustainable development without prioritising the wellbeing of its citizens.
He, however, expressed concern over what he described as the lackadaisical attitude of some healthcare service providers towards their responsibilities, warning that appropriate measures must be taken to address practices capable of undermining public confidence in the health system.
He called for stronger collaboration between the Kano State House of Assembly, the Office of the Head of Civil Service, organised labour, health institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that identified challenges were addressed through practical and sustainable solutions.
According to him, the reform process must go beyond policy statements and produce actionable strategies, measurable outcomes and effective accountability mechanisms capable of improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Earlier, the Kano State Head of Civil Service, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to strengthening health policies and improving the quality of healthcare services in the state.
Hajiya Maimota expressed appreciation to the State House of Assembly and organised labour for their commitment to the development of an effective and people-oriented healthcare system.
She stressed the importance of sustained engagement among policymakers, health workers, labour unions and other stakeholders in addressing gaps within the state’s healthcare financing and service delivery systems.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Zakariyya Alhassan Ishaq, said the committee had mapped out strategies to strengthen monitoring and oversight of the health system in Kano State.
Hon. Ishaq, who emphasised the importance of an effective healthcare system to the wellbeing of citizens, called for continuous cooperation among stakeholders to ensure that reforms translated into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.
The Kano State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Mubarak Yerima, described the workshop as a significant milestone in the effort to strengthen the contributory health system in the state.
They stressed the need for reforms that would protect the interests of workers and other enrollees while ensuring that contributions to the scheme translated into accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services.
Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Aminu Bashir, represented the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Hashim A. Sale, also contributed to the discussions at the workshop and commended the Executive Secretary, KSCHMA Dr Rahila Murktar for her giant strides
The stakeholders’ workshop is expected to provide a platform for critical examination of the existing healthcare financing framework and generate practical recommendations towards strengthening KSCHMA, improving service delivery, enhancing accountability and ensuring that the state’s healthcare system remains responsive to the needs of the people.
