The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Bill 2019 before the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly is now at the committee stage.
The executive bill seeks to improve the activities of the government in the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of the state.
Debating on the bill, Majority leader of the house, Martin Amaehule said the bill if passed would curb the trend of medical tourism abroad by residents of the state.
Also Read: Your pastoral calling is from Satan – Daddy Freeze tells Yul Edochie
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Tai state constituency, Matthew Dike said the bill would provide relief from the high cost of medical needs of those in rural communities; while on his part, Michael Chinda of Obio/Akpor constituency two, also spoke in support of the passage of the bill.
In his submission, speaker of the house, Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani urged health professionals in the state to be diligent in catering for the health needs of the people of the state and not jeopardize the efforts of the state government.
Our Correspondent reports that the speaker, therefore, committed the bill to the house committee on health with a mandate to conduct a public hearing inviting relevant stakeholders, and report back to the house in two weeks.
