The Imo State government and its ability to successfully implement the Imo Diagnosis-Related Group (i-DRG) Provider Payment Method have received commendations from the
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage, and National Health Insurance Authority.
The above agencies described the Imo State’s model as innovative and a potential blueprint for nationwide adoption, stressing that it is what many states should emulate.
The commendation came after a three-day field assessment conducted as a follow-up to a national methodology workshop on provider payment reforms.
Imo State was selected as the pilot for in-depth review at the instance of the Honourable Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate.
A delegation led by Dr Fabong Jemchang Yildam evaluated six healthcare providers, including primary health centres and secondary facilities, and engaged key stakeholders through key informant interviews and focus group discussions across the state’s health system.
The assessment revealed that Imo State’s output-based i-DRG payment model is functioning effectively across healthcare facilities. Under this system, providers are reimbursed based on defined service delivery outputs rather than inputs, a model stakeholders reported has improved efficiency, strengthened accountability, and enhanced responsiveness compared with traditional fee-for-service methods.
Healthcare providers reported satisfaction with the framework, highlighting timely claims reimbursement within 30 days and consistent operational discipline. “Providers are not owed, and the system motivates performance,” the delegation noted.
The team commended Professor Uche Ewelike, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA), for identifying a critical gap in the health financing system in Nigeria and developing the i-DRG to address it.
The team observed that Imo is currently the only state in Nigeria implementing an i-DRG payment system, describing the i-DRG as highly innovative and worthy of emulation by other states and nationally.
Ewelike, who commended the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, for creating an enabling environment and supporting the innovative provider payment system which is today worthy of study.
Based on their findings, the federal team concluded that the i-DRG model has proven effective in Imo State and recommended its adoption under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and other national health financing schemes in Nigeria.
“We welcomed a team from NHIA & FMOH to Owerri who are in the state to conduct research on providers’ payment methods. The Imo State Health Insurance Agency operates a PPM called the i-DRG system. On this note, we were selected for the pilot study.
“In 2023 I designed this system for the state without collecting a kobo. The records are there. It is important to state this for posterity and for my children to read this here even when we are gone. Thank you, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for making this happen.
“This is new and specific to Imo; we are willing to share. We believe that knowledge not shared is wasted. Imo is a state for knowledge.”
