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The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), the agency of the Lagos State Government promoting access to affordable and quality healthcare among residents at the grassroots, has partnered with First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) to utilise its over 13,000 Firstmonie Agents as payment channels for the Lagos State Health  Scheme (LSHS).

During the recent launch of the partnership scheme, the General Manager of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the pact was necessary to facilitate ease of health insurance premium transactions for residents, especially those at the base of the economic pyramid. She said FirstBank was selected for the partnership in recognition of its efficient operations and large clientele base.

Dr. Zamba said that LASHMA realised that not all residents can go to the Bank or use online platforms for the payment of their health insurance premiums. “Hence the Agency identified the need for other payment platforms such as the Firstmonie Agents,” she added.

Under the state’s health insurance scheme, residents can pay N40,000 annually for family plan or N8,500 annually for individual plan through any of the Firstmonie Agents. Once the premium is paid before the 25th of every month, such enrollee can receive care from the first day of the following month at any public or private hospital of their choice within the scheme's network of providers.

Dr. Zamba also disclosed that LASHMA is working at making residents to be able to enroll for the health insurance scheme at any of the Firstmonie Agents located in their localities.

In a statement FirstBank sent to Financial Nigeria on Thursday, the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Gbenga Shobo, said the health insurance scheme “will have a crucial role at improving the life expectancy of Lagos residents, whilst promoting their increased contribution to the growth and development of the State."

First Bank has over 750 business locations and over 82,000 banking agents spread across nearly all the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. The bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services to its over 15 million customers. FirstBank also has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing.