The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA), Dr. Uchenna Ewelike (PhD), has called for stronger collaboration between the Agency and the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation (HHMC) to further improve healthcare service delivery across Imo State.
Dr. Ewelike made the call during a courtesy visit by the CEO and management staff of the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation to the Agency on Tuesday, January 26.
Speaking during the visit, the CEO of HHMC, Dr. Emmanuel Ogueri, commended IMSHIA for its efforts in ensuring that affordable and accessible healthcare services are available to Imo residents. He noted that the visit was in line with the mandate of the newly established Hospital Management Corporation and aimed at consolidating gains in alignment with the healthcare vision of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator (Dr) Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State.
In his response, Dr. Ewelike appreciated the visit and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to ensuring quality, timely, and efficient healthcare delivery. He explained that IMSHIA operates a demand-side financing model, with emphasis on output-based financing and strategic purchasing, consistent with its mandate as a results-driven health financing institution.
Dr. Ewelike also highlighted IMSHIA’s role in revitalising Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) across the state through sustained funding, including monthly capitation payments to PHCs for healthcare service delivery. He observed the resulting increase in service utilisation and referrals, and underscored the need to strengthen secondary healthcare facilities to effectively manage such referrals.
He therefore encouraged continued collaboration with the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation to reposition public health facilities to better meet the healthcare needs of Imo residents, particularly in rural communities in line with the vision of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
He concluded by calling for deeper synergy between IMSHIA and HHMC to enhance service delivery through government-owned facilities, ensure sustainability of the health insurance scheme, and support continuous capacity development of healthcare workers in Imo State.
It will be recalled that the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation was recently established by the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Dr. Hope Uzodimma, following the restructuring of the former Hospital Management Board, to improve efficiency and performance within the state’s healthcare delivery system.
