By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Katsina

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has announced that enrollment under the Katsina State Health Insurance Scheme has increased from 355,000 beneficiaries in 2023 to 583,460 in 2026, representing a 64 percent growth within three years.

Governor Radda made the announcement on Friday while flagging off the enrollment of 184,105 beneficiaries into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across Katsina State’s 361 political wards at the General Hospital, Katsina.

He said the achievement reflects his administration’s sustained investment in expanding access to quality healthcare and ensuring that poor and vulnerable citizens are not left behind.

“Today, we are not merely launching another programme. We are taking another bold step towards ensuring that healthcare becomes a right and not a privilege for every citizen of Katsina State,” the Governor declared.

Governor Radda stated that Katsina has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading states in healthcare financing and service delivery, with the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA) winning the National Health Insurance Excellence Award in both 2024 and 2025.

He disclosed that the agency has also hosted peer-review visits from seven states seeking to understudy Katsina’s innovative healthcare financing model.

The Governor further revealed that his administration has revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, established modern facilities including the Imaging and Cancer Treatment Centreand Dialysis Centre, and upgraded several Comprehensive Health Centres into fully-fledged General Hospitals.

He disclosed that about 98 percent of state and local government employees have been enrolled into the health insurance scheme, while retirees, members of the Hisbah Corps, the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and persons with disabilities continue to benefit from free health insurance provided by the state government.

Governor Radda also announced that enrollment into the Katsina State Health Insurance Scheme has become a mandatory requirement for all government employment programmes.

According to him, the policy is designed to protect beneficiaries from catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses while accelerating Katsina’s drive towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“An Executive Memorandum will be issued immediately to ensure full compliance across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Health insurance is now mandatory in Katsina State because we are determined to protect our people from avoidable financial hardship arising from medical expenses,” the Governor stated.

He explained that the policy aligns with the Federal Government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and his administration’s Building Your Future development blueprint.

Governor Radda said the government has strengthened the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency through an innovative financing model that channels 50 percent of capitation funds directly to healthcare facilities, significantly reducing drug stock-outs while improving accountability and service delivery.

He noted that Katsina’s healthcare financing model has continued to attract national and international recognition, revealing that countries such as Kenya have adopted aspects of the state’s healthcare financing framework.