The Imo State Ministry of Health recently hosted the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2026 Quarter One State Oversight Committee (SOC) Meeting in Owerri. Presided over by the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chioma Vivian Egu, the session serves as a critical pillar in Governor Hope Uzodimma’s 3R administration to ensure quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare for all Imolites.
Having received National Recognition for Innovation, researches and assessments by the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recently commended Imo State for its “i-DRG” (Diagnosis-Related Group) Provider Payment Method through the Imo State Health Insurance Program/Agency. This innovative model is now being studied as a potential blueprint for nationwide adoption to improve healthcare financing and accountability.
While speaking, Prof. Uchenna Ewelike, the Executive Secretary/CEO of Imo State Health Insurance Agency, confirmed a zero maternal death record among pregnant enrollees in the State’s Health Insurance Program. This success is attributed to intensive life-saving skills training for Primary Health Care (PHC) Officers-in-Charge, funded through the BHCPF.
The meeting aligned with the BHCPF 2.0 Guidelines, focusing on performance-based disbursements and transparent fund management to prevent the misuse of health resources at the facility level.
Dr. Chioma Egu emphasized that the Q1 meeting is more than a formality; it is a “strategic alignment” of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP), with key directives on expanding enrollment for the vulnerable through the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, to ensure no resident is financially sidelined from essential care.
