Table of Contents
- Flag Off of E-Referral and Claims Management System
- Enhancing Healthcare Delivery
- Background of TSCHIA
- Digital Integration of Healthcare Facilities
- Improvements in Healthcare Access
- Commissioner for Health's Statement
- Government's Commitment to Healthcare
- Call to Action for Stakeholders
The Taraba State government officially launched the E-Referral and Claims Management System, along with the Secondary Referral Component of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (TSCHIS), on Friday.
This launch, held in Jalingo, is seen as a significant step towards improving access to quality healthcare while enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in service delivery.
During the event, Pharmacist Jacobs Akenzukpi, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (TSCHIA), stated that this new initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery by facilitating seamless referrals between primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities.
Akenzukpi noted that the agency was established under Law No. 6 of 2019 and inaugurated on December 3, 2020. Its mandate is to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to residents, especially vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced individuals.
He revealed that TSCHIA operates on a contributory funding model, supported by both the federal and state governments as well as development partners, and has successfully enrolled over 112,000 residents across the state's 168 political wards.
According to him, the E-Referral and Claims Management System will digitally connect healthcare facilities at all levels, ensuring that enrollees receive timely and appropriate care whenever referrals are necessary.
Akenzukpi highlighted that Taraba State, with a population exceeding 3.6 million, has 772 public primary healthcare facilities, 16 public secondary healthcare facilities, and three public tertiary health institutions, all of which will be integrated into the digital referral platform.
He explained that this innovation will enhance data management, reduce operational costs, improve accuracy, and expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
“The e-referral and claims management system is essential for linking enrollees across the three levels of healthcare delivery. It will promote efficiency, transparency, and improved access to care,” he stated.
Akenzukpi also emphasized that the agency is working to implement additional health plans for both formal and informal sectors to increase coverage.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, described the launch of the secondary referral services as a groundbreaking achievement aligned with Governor Agbu Kefas’ Five-Finger Agenda, which focuses on human capital development, social protection, and enhanced service delivery.
Buma noted that this initiative is a practical measure toward achieving universal health coverage by ensuring that residents have access to necessary health services without financial burden.
He outlined key objectives of the scheme, including expanding health insurance coverage to at least 80 percent of the state’s population, minimizing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, and improving care quality through accredited secondary healthcare facilities.
The commissioner added that the secondary referral component will guarantee continuity of care for enrollees whose conditions cannot be addressed at the primary healthcare level while fostering equity and accountability within the health system.
Both officials reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Taraba a center for quality healthcare, decreasing out-of-pocket costs, and providing financial protection for the most vulnerable and impoverished residents.
They urged healthcare workers to deliver services with professionalism and compassion, encouraged residents to enroll in the scheme, and appealed to stakeholders and development partners to continue their support for ongoing health sector reforms.
They expressed confidence that the new digital referral and secondary care system would significantly enhance healthcare delivery in the state and improve the overall wellbeing of its citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E-Referral and Claims Management System?
The E-Referral and Claims Management System is a digital platform designed to connect healthcare facilities at all levels, ensuring timely and appropriate care for patients through seamless referrals.
Who can benefit from the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme?
Residents, especially vulnerable groups including children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons, can benefit from the scheme.
How many residents are currently enrolled in the scheme?
Over 112,000 residents have been enrolled across Taraba State's 168 political wards.
What are the goals of the secondary referral component?
The goals include ensuring continuity of care for patients, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending, and improving the quality of care through accredited facilities.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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