The Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA), Dr. Rasaq Akindele, has issued a firm reminder to healthcare providers under the Osun Health Insurance Scheme to operate within the boundaries of their professional expertise.
Speaking during the closing session of the 2025 First Quarter Providers’ Forum and Basic Emergency Care Training held in Abeere on Wednesday, Dr. Akindele emphasized the importance of medical ethics and patient safety.
“What we are saying is, know the limit of your knowledge,” he stated. “If you are not an orthopaedic surgeon, what are you doing fixing a fracture, especially an open fracture? That’s not just poor judgment—it’s a breach of medical best practices. In such cases, refer to a specialist who can deliver appropriate care. That is how we ensure a good outcome for the patient.”
The forum brought together accredited service providers under the state’s health insurance scheme to evaluate progress, identify challenges, and reinforce standards in medical delivery. Dr. Akindele noted that the dialogue provided vital feedback from both service providers and enrollees.
“Occasionally, we must sit down with those attending to our enrollees to understand what they face in the field,” he explained. “We also gather reports from the enrollees themselves regarding their experiences at various facilities. By listening to both sides, we can identify real issues and formulate practical solutions. This model of collaboration has already yielded positive results, as seen from the last forum we held.”
The Executive Secretary added that this type of engagement strengthens trust in the health system, pointing to recent improvements in patient satisfaction levels. “Enrollees expressed appreciation after our last forum. That tells us this process works, and we must keep it going.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Johnson Odesanya, the Medical Director of Living Hope Medical Centre, emphasized the need for more financial support for the scheme. He called on the agency to actively engage with the state government to increase funding.
“One of our key recommendations is for the Agency to negotiate with the Osun State Government to inject more funds into OHIS,” he said. “More funding will translate to increased capitation and allow us to extend free healthcare coverage. This would also enable the inclusion of treatments currently not covered by OHIS, ultimately benefiting more residents.”
Dr. Odesanya also commended OSHIA for allowing healthcare providers a seat at the table in shaping the future of the scheme.
Dr. Akindele reiterated OSHIA’s commitment to sustaining continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement. “We believe in giving our providers the platform to share, contribute, and grow alongside the scheme. That’s the only way we’ll continue to deliver quality healthcare in Osun.”
