Corps Members Get Assurances on NHIA GIFSHIP-n Programme

An official of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Agwunobi Immaculate has today told corps members of the 2023 Batch "B" Stream I Orientation Course at the NYSC Lagos Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja that under the NHIA GIFSHIP-n programme, no corps member is left behind.

According to Mrs Agwunobi, there are different categories of GIFSHIP, but the one with the "n" enrols corps members for healthcare. She said while the NHIA ensures corps members enjoy free Healthcare, the role of the corps members is to know their HMO, state code number/call-up number and present them when needed.

Myschoolnews reports She also stated that the GIFSHIP-n programme covers the corps members at the Pre-orientation period, Orientation, post orientation and the 3 weeks terminal leave. She hinted that when the corps members exit national service, they can still access free medical care provided it falls within 3 weeks after the official date of exit from Service.

On maternity, Mrs Agwunobi stated any child birthed during service year is covered. This involves anti-natal, delivery and post natal care for one pregnancy. She said the management of obstetric and gynecological conditions, paediatric cases requiring specialist care for 1st - 12th week of a child. She also said immunization programme to the effect of a newborn is also covered.

She listed that some aspects that are free to corps members ; prescribed drugs, pharmaceutical care and diagnostic test, low-prices spectacles excluding contact lenses, a range of prostheses - limited to ones produced in Nigeria, dental care, surgical procedures requiring specialist care, medical and psychiatric cases requiring specialist care. Treatment of opportunistic infections etc.

On cases that are of total or partial exclusion in the free health care access, she listed them as; drug abuse/addiction, occupational/industrial injuries, cosmetic surgeries, epidemics, family planning, IVF, ICSI, high technological investigations such as CT scan and MRI scan, renal dialysis, ophthalmologist - provision of contact lenses.

Speaking on relocated corps members from their State of deployment to another State, she said their HMO at their former State will remain in their new State.

On admission during illness, she said a corps member can be admitted for a cumulative period of 21 days in a year and that preference for a special admission room outside the one assigned is out of the pocket of the patient.

According to Mrs Agwunobi, before a corps member can access the benefits of the GIFSHIP-n programme, such must first be in contact with a facility. She said facility are of three types which are; primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary facility is where the insured uses, the secondary is where such is referred, and the tertiary, the same.

She however emphatically states that unlike other NHIA sectors, under the GIFSHIP-n programme, no co-payment for drugs by corps members.

She informed the corps of the HMO that covers the Southwest which is Lifeworth and gave their numbers as 08091111760, 09120398531.