13/03/2026
PLASCHEMA VALIDATES FINDINGS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE IMPLEMENTATION.
The Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) recently convened a stakeholders’ meeting to review and validate findings from a Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) survey as part of efforts to expand affordable healthcare coverage across Plateau State.
The meeting aimed to disseminate the survey results, validate the findings with key stakeholders, and adopt them as a guide for implementing the CBHI scheme.
Presentations revealed that many health facilities already have a basic capacity to operate under the scheme, with most facilities open 24 hours daily and staff regularly receiving training on key health services such as malaria case management and maternal health. Additionally, over 100 percent of facilities already provide services to health insurance enrollees, largely through PLASCHEMA.
However, the assessment identified gaps in staffing, particularly shortages of nurses, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists, as well as infrastructure challenges such as limited water supply and sanitation in some facilities.
Community responses showed strong support for the scheme, with more than 97 percent of households willing to participate if others in their communities join. Despite this support, awareness of health insurance remains low, with over half of respondents unaware of how such schemes work. Currently, healthcare spending remains largely out-of-pocket for most households.
Stakeholders emphasized that transparency and accountability in managing funds will be critical to building community trust and ensuring the success of the scheme.
The assessment concluded that while Plateau State has a receptive population and a basic service delivery foundation for launching CBHI, addressing gaps in awareness, human resources, and service quality will be essential for effective implementation.