BENIN CITY — In a decisive push to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC) has moved to close critical data gaps and enforce stricter accountability measures across the system, warning that persistent reporting lapses are undermining service efficiency and access to care.
The Commission ramped up its reform drive at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held on Wednesday at its headquarters in Benin City, where key actors in the health sector reviewed performance, identified operational weaknesses, and mapped out practical steps to improve outcomes at the grassroots.
The meeting drew participation from Medical Officers of Health, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers, and representatives from all 18 Local Government Areas, underscoring the breadth of concern over systemic inefficiencies.
At the heart of deliberations was the growing challenge of poor data quality, described by officials as a major obstacle to effective planning, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Addressing participants, the Director-General of EDOHIC acknowledged noticeable improvements in supervisory activities across Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), but warned that recurring inaccuracies, delays, and inconsistencies in data reporting continue to erode gains made in the sector.
“Data remains the backbone of our operations. It is indispensable for informed decision-making, resource allocation, and ensuring that healthcare services reach the most vulnerable,” she stated.
She aligned the Commission’s renewed focus with the Edo State Government’s SHINE Agenda under Governor Monday Okpebholo, stressing that a robust and efficient health system is central to achieving sustainable development goals.
A detailed performance review presented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Owen Omorogbe, covering the second to fourth quarters of 2025, highlighted interventions under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and the State Equity Programme.
Although some Local Government Areas recorded measurable improvements, the report revealed that data integrity challenges remain widespread.
Dr. Omorogbe identified recurring issues including poor image quality in digital submissions, illegible records, incomplete data fields, and delays in reporting.
He disclosed that the Commission has adopted a hybrid reporting framework combining digital and manual processes, in compliance with the National Health Insurance Authority’s two-week reporting requirement.
Stakeholders also flagged discrepancies between facility-level and LGA data, the absence of comprehensive enrollee registers, and delays in report collation. Participants called for the expansion of digital solutions and sustained capacity-building initiatives for frontline health officers to improve data accuracy and timeliness.
Reinforcing the Commission’s position, Dr. Omorogbe underscored the pivotal role of M&E officers in upholding reporting standards and announced plans to intensify supervision and validation mechanisms.
He also reaffirmed EDOHIC’s commitment to the “Treat and Enrol” policy, aimed at ensuring that vulnerable residents are not denied access to healthcare services.
The session further exposed performance disparities among LGAs, with Etsako Central singled out for commendation, while others were urged to raise compliance levels.
Key resolutions from the meeting included the standardisation of reporting timelines, enhanced training programmes, improved financial accountability, and strict enforcement of the use of the National Identification Number as a requirement for accessing healthcare services.
EDOHIC maintained that sustained collaboration among stakeholders and strict adherence to data management standards will be critical to advancing universal health coverage and delivering quality, accessible healthcare to residents across Edo State.
