The Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC) has conducted an onboarding and capacity-building training for desk officers of the Central Hospital, Benin City, following the hospital’s designation as a referral centre under the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS).
The training was aimed at enhancing effective referral management and improving service delivery for enrollees accessing care at the facility.
Speaking during the session, the Director of Health Standards at EDOHIC, Dr. Osayuki Edosa-Iyayi, said the initiative was designed to strengthen adherence to the standards of the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme and ensure seamless delivery of quality healthcare services.
Dr. Edosa-Iyayi emphasized that desk officers play a critical role as the first point of contact for enrollees referred to accredited facilities. According to her, desk officers are responsible for ensuring that EDOHIS enrollees receive optimal care from the moment they arrive at the facility.
She noted that the Commission only refers enrollees to accredited facilities that have met established standards of care, stressing that such standards must be consistently upheld in practice.
Also speaking, the Director of the Claims Department, Dr. Obehioye Egbadon-Osazee, explained that the training featured comprehensive sessions on EDOHIS, including an overview of the Scheme, available health plans, the EDOHIC accreditation process, benefit packages, and claims authorization and processing procedures.
Dr. Egbadon-Osazee urged desk officers to serve as advocates of the Edo State Government’s health insurance initiative by encouraging patients and members of the public to enroll. She described health insurance as a vital tool for reducing the financial burden of healthcare on individuals and families in any modern society.
She further guided participants through detailed sessions on the EDOHIC claims process, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with the Commission’s Standard Operating Procedures to ensure efficient and timely claims processing. The officers were also educated on services covered under the various EDOHIC health plans, with emphasis on the importance of being fully conversant with benefit packages.
During the practical segment of the training, desk officers were shown how to properly complete EDOHIC claims forms to minimize errors that could delay processing. An interactive session followed, during which participants sought clarification on referral management and strategies for mobilizing prospective enrollees into the Scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the desk officers, Mrs. Maureen Ighodaro described the training as timely, insightful, and impactful. She said the sessions deepened their understanding of the EDOHIC Scheme, referral processes, and their responsibilities at the facility.
Mrs. Ighodaro reaffirmed the officers’ commitment to complying with EDOHIC’s standards and procedures and assured the Commission of their readiness to deliver quality, efficient, and patient-centred care to enrollees. She added that desk officers would actively support awareness creation and enrollment drives in line with the Commission’s vision of providing accessible and affordable healthcare to residents of Edo State.
The onboarding exercise underscores EDOHIC’s commitment to continuous capacity building for healthcare providers and frontline personnel, as well as its resolve to ensure quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare services across the State.
Akhere Okhiria Caura
EDOHIC Public Relations Unit
