Rivers State has launched a subsidised healthcare scheme for commercial drivers, seeking to protect thousands of transport workers from the financial burden of medical emergencies.
The state government, in partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has introduced a health insurance programme that allows registered drivers to access healthcare for about 400 naira per day.
The scheme is designed to improve access to quality medical care through designated public and private hospitals across the state.
The agreement, signed earlier this year, gives enrolled drivers access to comprehensive healthcare services, including consultations, diagnostic tests and treatment at participating health facilities.
The Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, said the initiative aims to ensure that no commercial driver is pushed into poverty because of the cost of healthcare.
Under the state-subsidised programme, enrolled drivers pay only 10% to 15% of the cost of prescribed medications, while consultations, routine laboratory tests and major surgeries, including hernia operations, are fully covered.
State officials say the initiative is expected to improve access to healthcare, enhance the welfare of commercial drivers and strengthen the state’s broader health insurance programme. Commercial drivers are a vital part of the state’s transport system, often working long hours to move millions of commuters each day. But many face severe financial hardship when illness or injury strikes, with some forced to sell their vehicles to pay hospital bills.