BOSCHMA seeks better service delivery for healthcare enrollees
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) has called for improved service delivery, staff commitment and availability of essential medicines and equipment across participating health facilities to enhance healthcare services for enrollees.
Dr Saleh Kaza, Executive Secretary of BOSCHMA, made the call at the agency’s third-quarter performance review meeting with Social Health Fund (SHF) stakeholders in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Kaza said the meeting was organised to assess the agency’s performance, identify operational challenges and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to improve access to quality healthcare.
He stressed the need for health facilities to expand the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to all service points to improve patient management, documentation and claims processing.
According to him, the system will reduce delays associated with missing patient folders and eliminate the need for doctors to repeatedly collect patients’ medical histories.
Kaza observed that many facilities were yet to utilise the full potential of the electronic records system, which could improve information management and facilitate timely reimbursement.
He also expressed concern over incomplete documentation of patients’ admission status and diagnoses, noting that such omissions could affect claims processing and reimbursement.
He urged medical directors to ensure that the electronic system was extended to wards, laboratories, pharmacies, theatres and specialised clinics.
The executive secretary said the agency had introduced a staff recognition and awards programme to motivate health workers demonstrating exceptional commitment despite challenging working conditions.
He explained that the selection of outstanding personnel and facilities would be based on objective performance indicators generated through the electronic records system to promote transparency and accountability.
Earlier, Dr Inna Alimi, BOSCHMA’s Director of Service Quality Assurance, presented findings from assessments conducted across participating health facilities.
Alimi identified staff absenteeism, lateness, early clinic closure, shortages of essential medicines, inadequate equipment and delays in laboratory services among the challenges affecting healthcare delivery.
She also highlighted restricted service packages, poor documentation of drug inventories and incomplete deployment of electronic health records.
According to her, the State Specialist Hospital recorded improvements in patient attendance, electronic drug dispensing and enrollee satisfaction, although laboratory delays and shortages of consumables persisted.
She commended Maman Shuwa Memorial Hospital for extending its electronic records system to laboratory services and improving staff commitment.
However, she expressed concern over service restrictions at Wange Maternity, where enrollees reportedly experienced long waiting hours, inadequate medicines and limited access to approved services.
Alimi recommended stronger supervision, staff orientation, regular management meetings, adequate equipment and timely submission of claims.
The meeting featured discussions on facility performance and operational challenges, culminating in awards and recognition for outstanding healthcare personnel and health facilities.
NAN
