By Edu Abade
Acting Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala has again, restated that whether as a government agency or as individual officers working with integrity, accountability remains a core value of the Governor Siminialayi Fubara-led administration.
Agala, who made the declaration during an interactive session with private health providers, said the agency has been forging productive collaboration with other agencies and segments of the state to provide quality healthcare services to those who enroll into the programme in Port Harcourt, the state capital and beyond.
She noted that although the agency was not all out for profit making, it will remain focused on creating the best environment for the private healthcare providers, whose major interest is to make profits, as well as to operate and give Rivers people quality healthcare services at affordable rates.
The RIVCHPP Executive Secretary revealed that the agency was ever willing to work with the private healthcare providers whose facilities it has assessed and commended them for agreeing to partner the state government in providing adequate and affordable healthcare to Rivers people.
Agala further stated that though most private organisations are usually skeptical about the workings of government agencies and departments, she appealed that RIVCHPP should be given the benefits of the doubt, while assuring the private healthcare providers of maximum benefits and cooperation, especially in the areas of the terms of agreement and tariffs to be paid for medical and healthcare services for all enrollees.
Speaking, the Chief Medical Director of Arik Mission Hospital, Ada George Area of Port Harcourt, Dr. Idoro Sylvester, who expressed delight at the meeting and how the RIVCHPP has been proactive in getting quality healthcare services for its beneficiaries, said the private providers have had the opportunity to chart a new course with the RIVCHPP.
While expressing optimism that they would use their facilities to help the agency provide global healthcare services for Rivers people, he commended the agency for the cordial relationship it has created so far, looking forward to more robust relationships.
Also speaking with the newsmen, Surgeon Commander T. S. Tijani of Naval Medical Centre, Onne, expressed gratitude for the opportunity of the meeting, which he described as “an eye-opener and very educational.”
Tijani expressed delight at the responsiveness of the Rivers State government in establishing the health insurance agency, saying that he was impressed by the well-organised and functional RIVCHPP. He also expressed the hope that suggestions made would be acted upon, just as he expressed the joy of the Naval Medical Centre, Onne to be part of the RIVCHPP’s success story.
The interactive session also featured lectures, questions and answers sessions, and other side attractions.
