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Chijioke Iremeka
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Defence Health Maintenance Limited, Surgeon Rear Admiral Azeez Afolayan (Rtd) says DHML has concluded plans to expand health insurance coverage for military retirees.
He explained that the DHML’s plan involves extending health insurance coverage to cater for specific needs of military retirees, who often face health issues without the support structure of military units.
Afolayan, who spoke during the 11th DHML Stakeholders Meeting with Military Health Care Providers held at the Scorpion Officers Mess in Abuja, outlined the organisation’s commitment to improving the healthcare provisions for retired military personnel.
He said, “I wish to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by veterans, particularly in accessing comprehensive healthcare services after their active service. This would soon become a thing of the past.
“To achieve this goal, DHML has planned to collaborate with the Veteran’s Departments of the Defence Headquarters and Services Headquarters. This would help to address the growing healthcare needs of retirees, especially those with chronic medical conditions.
“The importance of partnerships and increased awareness campaigns to ensure that military retirees are informed about the expanded coverage cannot be over emphasised.”
He noted that the organisation will open a second DHML office in Lagos, slated to commence full operations in January 2024, while the Abuja DHML office is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2024, focusing solely on serving healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory.
Afolayan stated that the DHML’s effort is to enhance its operational reach with plans to establish permanent state offices in Osun, Benue, Borno, and Kogi states.
“These initiatives are crucial for better coverage, increased efficiency, and improved services to enrollees. It is all about the DHML’s goal to provide accessible and quality healthcare services to all armed forces personnel, both serving and retired,” he added.
He hinted on DHML’s deliberate policy to provide total healthcare to military veterans, emphasising that no veteran with health issues has ever been turned away or denied access to healthcare within the organisation.
Afolayan also revealed plans to modernise DHML’s Integrated Health Management System, saying, “The comprehensive update of IHMS aims to transition claims adjudication to an entirely electronic process. Training and retraining of appropriate healthcare provider staff are ongoing to ensure a seamless and error-free implementation of the electronic system.”
While addressing constraints in the administration of health insurance, particularly issues of exclusions and co-payments, Afolayan assured stakeholders that DHML’s proactive approach to veterans’ healthcare is informed by the realities faced by retirees, such as their detachment from military units and the prevalence of chronic medical conditions in older age.
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