Ondo State Expands Orange Health Insurance Scheme to Enroll 500,000 by 2027

The Ondo State government has set an ambitious goal of enrolling 500,000 individuals in its Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) by 2027 to tackle rising healthcare costs. Announced by Abiodun Oyeneyin, the Director-General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, this initiative was discussed during the National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies in Akure. The summit concentrated on strategies to expand insurance coverage and achieve Universal Health Coverage.

ORANGHIS currently boasts over 300,000 enrollees, encompassing public servants, informal sector workers, and vulnerable groups supported by the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund. Oyeneyin highlighted the forthcoming inclusion of retirees—approximately 34,000 individuals—expected to significantly increase enrollment in the next year. At the summit's opening, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced free health insurance for retirees and introduced a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund aimed at enhancing state healthcare infrastructure.

Oyeneyin emphasized health insurance as a critical tool for financial protection against medical expenses, underlining the importance of structured budgeting and improved service access. He attributed growing enrollment figures to effective awareness campaigns and strategic partnerships, significantly advancing healthcare delivery and medication availability. Meanwhile, Mohammed Safana, President of the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Health Insurance Agencies in Nigeria, advocated for inter-state collaborations to strengthen healthcare financing. He urged the adoption of successful state strategies to improve insurance coverage and operational efficiencies, and called for sustainable financial remedies like health trust funds amid declining international donor support for treating diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.