Victoria Tokolo.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has unveiled a wallet-based payment solution, ILERA EKO EasyPay, as part of efforts to accelerate universal health insurance coverage in the state.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this on Monday during the agency’s 2026 first-quarter media parley held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Zamba said the initiative aligns with the state government’s commitment to ensuring that all residents are enrolled in a health insurance scheme, describing healthcare as a fundamental human right.
According to her, the government is not aiming to penalise residents but to encourage compliance through structured policies that will integrate health insurance into access to public services.
“Health insurance is not about denying people services. It is about ensuring that no life is lost needlessly. We are introducing measures that will guide and encourage residents to enroll,” she said.
She further explained that under the enforcement framework, residents accessing public services—such as licence renewals and school enrolment—may be required to show proof of health insurance coverage. However, those without coverage will be assisted to enroll on the spot.
Zamba noted that compulsory social health insurance is a standard practice in many developed countries.
Enforcement, Expansion Drive Enrolment
The LASHMA boss said the state had intensified enforcement of the executive order mandating health insurance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), leading to increased enrolment among public servants.
She commended the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, for inaugurating an enforcement team to strengthen compliance.
The agency has also completed its first compliance assessment of MDAs, enabling institutions with public interface to verify residents’ insurance status through dedicated portals.
In addition, LASHMA has expanded stakeholder engagement across Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), while restructuring its sales department to improve grassroots access.
EasyPay Targets Informal Sector
Zamba said the newly introduced EasyPay platform allows residents to make incremental payments toward their insurance premiums.
“In recognition of current economic realities, we introduced ILERA EKO EasyPay to reduce financial barriers, especially for low- and middle-income earners,” she said.
The Head of Business Development at LASHMA, Olatunji Rotimi, described the initiative as a response to residents’ demand for flexible payment options.
He explained that users can contribute gradually into a digital wallet until they complete the required premium—such as ₦15,000 for an individual—after which coverage becomes active.
Awareness, Youth Engagement
The agency also disclosed that 72 journalists were trained in collaboration with the Institute for Social Marketing in Public Health to strengthen reporting on social health insurance.
As part of youth engagement efforts, LASHMA organised the ILERA EKO essay competition across public schools, which attracted over 700 entries.
Winners emerged across four categories, including primary, junior and senior secondary schools, as well as students from the Lagos State College of Nursing.
The LASHMA said all winners from the easy competition will receive one year of free health insurance coverage and have been designated as ILERA EKO ambassadors.
Addressing Service Delays
On complaints about delays in accessing healthcare services, Zamba acknowledged that while the system is not perfect, efforts are ongoing to improve service delivery.
She attributed some delays to verification processes between healthcare providers and LASHMA, particularly when treatment requests do not align with diagnoses.
According to her, a 24-hour customer care centre has been established to track approvals and resolve issues promptly.
N3bn Equity Fund for Vulnerable Residents
Zamba reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to vulnerable groups, revealing that funding for the health insurance equity programme has been increased to ₦3 billion in 2026.
She said the fund ensures that indigent residents identified across the state receive free health insurance coverage.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye urged residents’ especially young people to support government initiatives aimed at improving welfare.
“Any nation that seeks growth must priorities the welfare of its children and young people,” he said.
LASHMA reiterated that sustained public awareness and stakeholder collaboration remain critical to achieving universal health coverage in Lagos State.
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
