By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has signed into law the State’s Health Insurance Bill tagged ‘Ayadecare’.
The Bill seeks to provide medical insurance cover at primary, secondary and tertiary levels for the old, young, weak, strong and the vulnerable in the state.
The law is also expected to cater for all kinds of medical needs of every adult and resident in the state with a mandatory monthly fee of N1000.00 per person, paid into a stipulated account.
The monthly stipends allow patients access to full medical attention including diagnosis, transplant, surgeries among others.
Speaking on the international dimension of the new law, Mr Ayade sought the cooperation of the World Bank, United Nations, UNICEF and other agencies to support the state with funds in setting up of specialist health care centres across the three senatorial districts of the state to provide for the medical challenges of the citizenry.
He further noted that as part of the policy, the funds will not be available to the government of Cross River State, maintaining that its role will only be to enforce payment as reiterated by Government’s agency in charge of the enforcement.