Resident Doctors have been called upon to join hands in making health insurance more effective in Delta State.

The Director General, Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Isaac Akpoveta made the call when he received executive of the Association of Resident Doctors ARD, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.

Dr. Akpoveta said the Delta State Contributory Health Commission remained number one in the country with about 1.8 million Deltans enrolled in the scheme, adding that it is the highest in the country, followed by Lagos State.

He acknowledged that acute shortage of manpower was gradually hitting health facilities as many health practitioners were fleeing the country in search of greener pastures, while those remaining were faced with the challenge of “big name and lean pocket”, with high expectations from the society.

The Director General noted that resident doctors form high density workforce in most health facilities, and to them to assist in making the health insurance scheme in the state more effective, by pampering those under the scheme and giving them special attention.

He advised them to guide against transferring aggression to patients, and to maintain the ethics of the medical profession, emphasizing that health insurance could never be effective without doctors and health workers.

Dr Akpoveta pointed out that the commission was focusing on healthcare financing aimed at efficiency, adding that providing effective yet less expensive drugs would enable Government save more money to attain universal coverage and save the people from unplanned health expenses and subsequent financial hardship.

Commenting on the proposed TDRoP activity of the Association, the Director General lauded the initiative, saying that there is need to give back to the society which had helped to shape the doctors.

He encouraged members of the Association and well meaning Deltans to embrace the adoption program of the commission, where each person could adopt at least one indigent person and register them in the informal sector with #7,000 premium per year.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, Dr. Kenneth Okolie congratulated the DG on his appointment, saying that it is well deserved, and thanked him for his support to the association so far.

Dr. Okolie said doctors in training make up majority of the workforce in health facilities, and would key into the programmes of the commission.

Dr. Akpoveta later led the visitors on a tour of the commission where the functions of the various departments and sections were communicated.

Directors in the commission in charge of health services – Dr Alfred Ebiakofa, legal services- Barr. Richard Nagbere, Administration and human resources – Comrade Martins Bolum, Research and statistics/ ICT – Mr. Emmanuel Akpofure, among others were in attendance.

Dr. Akpoveta said the Delta State Contributory Health Commission remained number one in the country with about 1.8 million Deltans enrolled in the scheme, adding that it is the highest in the country, followed by Lagos State.