In a bid to enhance health insurance services in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Administration (FCTA), under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, has approved a study tour of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).

Addressing the delegation, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, urged the team to maximize the learning opportunity and apply key insights to strengthen healthcare services in the FCT.

The four-day tour is led by Dr. Salamatu Belgore, Acting Director of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS). She emphasized that the goal is to adopt or improve best practices observed at ASHIA to enhance FCT’s health insurance system.

Welcoming the delegation, ASHIA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, highlighted the agency’s innovative approach, noting that it operates without third-party Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and has successfully enrolled over 200,000 beneficiaries despite initial financial constraints.

“Our financial model allows us to source and manage our own funds while the government covers staff salaries. Though funding was a challenge at the beginning, we have now achieved financial stability,” Onyemaechi explained.

According to a statement by FHIS Public Relations Officer David Barau, the study tour will feature facility visits, operational briefings, plenary sessions, and hospital assessments, providing the FCT team with firsthand experience of ASHIA’s successful health insurance framework.