The Taraba State government has officially launched the E-Referral and Claims Management System alongside the Secondary Referral Component of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (TSCHIS), marking a major step toward improving healthcare access and service delivery in the state.

The launch, held in Jalingo, was hailed as a milestone in strengthening transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the health sector.

Enhancing Healthcare Delivery
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (TSCHIA), Pharmacist Jacobs Akenzukpi, explained that the new initiative will digitally link healthcare facilities at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, ensuring seamless referrals and timely care for enrollees.

He recalled that TSCHIA was established under Law No. 6 of 2019 and inaugurated on December 3, 2020, with a mandate to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

The agency operates a contributory funding model supported by federal and state governments, as well as development partners, and has enrolled more than 112,000 residents across the state’s 168 political wards.

Digital Innovation for Efficiency
According to Akenzukpi, the E-Referral and Claims Management System will improve data management, reduce operational costs, enhance service accuracy, and expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities. Taraba State, with over 3.6 million residents, has 772 public primary healthcare facilities, 16 secondary healthcare facilities, and three tertiary institutions, all integrated into the digital platform.

“The e-referral and claims management system is key to linking enrollees across all healthcare levels. It will drive efficiency, transparency, and better access to care,” he said, noting plans to operationalize additional health plans for both the formal and informal sectors.

Supporting Universal Health Coverage
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, described the launch as a landmark achievement aligned with Governor Agbu Kefas’ Five-Finger Agenda, which emphasizes human capital development, social protection, and improved service delivery.

Buma highlighted that the secondary referral services will ensure continuity of care for patients whose conditions cannot be managed at the primary level, while promoting equity and accountability. Key targets include expanding insurance coverage to at least 80% of the population, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending, and improving care quality through accredited secondary facilities.

Both officials called on healthcare workers to maintain professionalism and compassion, urged residents to enroll in the scheme, and encouraged stakeholders and development partners to sustain support for ongoing health reforms.

The launch of the e-referral and secondary care system is expected to significantly transform healthcare delivery in Taraba State, offering improved wellbeing and financial protection for the state’s most vulnerable populations.