Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KATCHMA) has begun a sensitization campaign to educate beneficiaries on how to access healthcare services at a lower cost.
The Director of Special Duties at the agency, Kabir Dahiru, spoke during the ongoing sensitization campaign held in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He explained that the program aims to provide quality healthcare services to state and local government staff, as well as pensioners and their families, at affordable rates.
According to him, 2.5 percent of a civil servant’s salary is deducted monthly as their contribution to the scheme.
He added that the agency had received numerous complaints about the program, particularly regarding the shortage of adequate and sufficient drugs in health facilities.
In their separate contributions, some of the beneficiaries, mostly state and Dutsinma local government workers as well as local education authorities, lamented the poor attitude of health professionals toward addressing patients’ complaints.
They also called on state government and the contributory agency to open zonal offices across the state for easy access to the public complains.
In his remarks, the NULGE Chairman Dutsinma Local Government, Comrade Kair Samaila commended the effort of the state government for introducing the scheme and enrollment of state and local government workers.
He said the program would undoubtedly help ease the financial hardship faced by workers when settling their medical bills and urged those managing the program to intensify efforts to achieve its desired objectives.
In an interview, the In-Charge of Dutsinma Comprehensive Health Center, Malam Abubakar Suleiman Liman, commended the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua, and the Director General of the National Primary Healthcare Agency, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Safana, for their timely support and supervision of KATCHMA programs in the state.
He said that, the comprehensive Heath center had also recorded a huge success in discharging their primary responsibilities adding that, those enrolled in the system are receiving drugs and other medical care at a lower cost
COV/DUTSINMA
