Abuja: Retired Rear Adm. Azeez Afolayan, Managing Director of Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), has called for increased funding and stronger support for military healthcare. Afolayan made the call during a symposium organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of DHML. The event has the theme: ‘Transforming Military Health Systems for Better Health Coverage through Defence Health Maintenance Limited: Progress, Challenges and Strategic Partnerships.’ He emphasized that increased funding would enable the organisation to sustain quality healthcare services for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and their families.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Afolayan highlighted the remarkable progress DHML has achieved over the last two decades, especially in expanding healthcare access and improving service delivery for beneficiaries. The organisation has significantly increased its enrollee base and introduced an Integrated Health Management System (IHMS) to facilitate seamless communication among its state offices and departments. Moreover, DHML has maintained regular payment of capitation and secondary healthcare claims to health facilities, thereby improving access to healthcare services for beneficiaries.
Afolayan identified several challenges affecting operations, such as inadequate funding, rising healthcare costs, shortage of healthcare personnel, and delayed release of funds from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). He stated that improved funding and better-equipped healthcare facilities would enhance service delivery and enable the organisation to meet the growing healthcare needs of military personnel and their dependents.
In her remarks, the General Manager of Medical Services at DHML, Dr Brenda Isikekpei, noted that the organisation was established in June 2006 as a health maintenance organisation dedicated to serving military personnel, retirees, and their eligible dependents. She stated that the anniversary celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on 20 years of commitment to expanding healthcare access within the armed forces community. Discussions at the symposium underscored the need for increased investment in military healthcare financing to reduce pressure on the health insurance system.
Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Dr Terfa Kene, advocated the adoption of telemedicine to improve healthcare delivery for troops deployed in remote operational areas. Kene highlighted that telemedicine would enable soldiers in the field to access specialist consultations and medical advice from healthcare professionals located in other parts of the country. He also stressed the importance of preventive healthcare measures, including adequate exposure to sunlight to address increasing cases of vitamin D deficiency among urban populations. Additionally, Kene encouraged military personnel to prepare for life after service by investing in community healthcare facilities that would benefit their host communities and improve access to primary healthcare services.