INSPENONLINE: State, Turkey Collaborate On Ebola, Health Insurance

Wednesday 25 February 2015

State, Turkey Collaborate On Ebola, Health Insurance

Vanguard

By Sola Ogundipe

Still basking in the euphoria of its successful defeat of Ebola Virus Disease , EBV, a 10-member high level healthcare delegation from the Nigerian health public sector was in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss ways to build ties between public and private Nigerian and Turkish Healthcare institutions. Nigeria was declared Ebola free on October 20, 2014, by the World Health Organization.

While the high level bilateral meetings lasted, talks on collaboration between Nigeria and Turkey on the emerging threat of Ebola and other infectious diseases dominated high level meetings between the two countries.

Knowledge in Ebola preparedness

"Nigeria would be willing to share our knowledge in Ebola preparedness with Turkey and also share our expertise in the area of infectious diseases with Turkish medical universities," said Provost of the College of Medicine University of Lagos,CMUL, Dr Folashade Ogunshola.

Ogunshola's view was corroborated by the CEO, Ebola Alert, Federal Ministry of Health Ebola Operation Center, Dr. Lawal Kolawole Bakare, who noted that the willingness of Nigeria is to share its globally recognised technology for reporting and containment of Ebola with the Turkish Ministry of Health in boosting its Ebola preparedness.

Led by Director Iheoo Partners, Dr Adedayo Osholowu, in partnership with the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board DEIK and the IFC, the private arm of the World Bank., the delegation was in Ankara, the Turkish capital for a meeting hosted by HuseyinCelik, Deputy Secretary of the Minister of Health of Turkey, for talks about development of a bilateral agreement between the Ministry of Health of Turkey and Nigeria.

The Under secretary discussed the relationship between the Turkish government health institutions and private institutions and the pillars of success of the Turkish health system: universal coverage, primary healthcare reform, hospital infrastructure planning and local development of the capacity of the pharmaceutical industry.

Present in the delegation were Dr Olufemi Thomas: CEO/ Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS; Dr Yewande Adeshina, Special Adviser, Public Health to the Lagos State Government and Dr. A.A. Ibrahim. CEO, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, amongst others.

Earlier, in Istanbul, at the High level Bilateral meeting hosted by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board DEIK, the Chairman DEIK/Health Business Council& CEO Kent Hospital Izmir Turkey Dr.Rusen YILDIRIM and Deputy Chairman Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board DEIK/Health Tourism Business Council and Rector AcibademUniveristy Dr HasanKus, a number of issues were discussed related to strengthening existing business and governmental relationships between the Nigerian and Turkish healthcare sector.

Duringthe meetings it was outlined that Nigeria and Turkey can boost ties in the area of Universal Health Coverage considering that Turkey has successfully introduced health system changes and provided its citizens with the right to health to achieve universal health coverage.

Health coverage

It was clearly stated also that there was an opportunity to learn from the trajectory of health system reforms in Turkey, with a particular emphasis on 2003-13, which coincides with the Turkish Health Transformation Programme (HTP) which expanded health insurance coverage and access to health-care services for all citizens, especially the poorest population groups, to achieve universal health coverage.

Insurance coverage for the poorest population groups in Turkey increased from 2.4 million people in 2003, to 10.2 million in 2011. Nigeria presidential mandate is also toincrease coverage from 10 percent where it currently stands to 30 percent in 2015 and preliminary discussion were held around collaborating with the Turkish health system, on both the demand side (increased health insurance coverage, expanded benefits, and reduced cost-sharing) and the supply side (expansion of infrastructure, health human resources, and health services).

A Nigerian and Turkey hospital collaboration had been announced in in 2013, but the venture failed to make much headway because of a lack ofbi-lateral governmental support, even though a Turkish Hospital has been opened in Abuja Nigeria in 2014.

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Lawal is Inspen 2014 insurance man of the year

The former President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Fatai Lawal has emerged the 2014 Inspenonline Insurance Man of the year.

Fatai who is the the Managing Director Sterling Assurance Nigeria Limited was named today, at the Nigerian Insurance and Pension Award organised by Inspenonline.

Chief Executive Officer Inspenonline Media, Chuks Udo Okonta, said Lawal was picked from the votes casted by the public and other considerations made by the award's panel of assessors.

He noted that the winner raised the bar at the the Institute and the industry by opting to serve a tenure which was eventful and impactful. He added that amongst the legacies left by the winner was the printing and donation of Insurance books to secondary and tertiary institutions aimed at deepening insurance awareness.

Okonta noted that the award, which started two years ago with the recognition of two distinguished individuals and an underwriting company, has now come to stay.

"This year, we decided to raise the bar by setting high standards to judge the operations of companies and impacts made by individuals in moving insurance and pension business forward.

"To achieve this, we gave the public the opportunity to select those to be celebrated by calling for votes. Having harmonised the votes which came from different parts of the country, we benchmarked the scores with the set standard to arrive at the winners we are celebrating today," he said.

Others winners are AIICO Insurance Plc, Insurance company of the year; FUG Pensions Limited, Pension Fund Administrator of the Year; YOA Insurance Brokers Limited and Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers Limited, Insurance Broker of the year.

Professional Excellence Award went to Professor Joe Irukwu; Best Professional Group went to the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria; Corporate Brand went to Mansard Insurance Plc and Leadway Assurance Limited while Corporate Social Responsibility Award was won by Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc.

The organisers also recognised organisations that distinguished themselves, with Excellence Award. Organisations in this category include the National Pension Commission, Lagos State Pension Commission, Goldlink Insurance Plc and Pension Transition Administration Directorate.

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