EDOHIC goes digital, trains health providers ahead September 1 portal launch

BENIN CITY - 

The training, held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, is part of the Commission’s stakeholder-readiness strategy designed to ensure that frontline healthcare personnel are fully equipped to operate the new platform and provide seamless services to enrollees from day one.

The portal represents a major shift from EDOHIC’s existing manual processes, with key operations—including enrollee verification, authorisations, referrals, claims processing and enrolment—set to be automated.

The digital transition is also consistent with the administration of His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, which has prioritised improved access to quality healthcare and the use of technology to strengthen public service delivery.

The initiative is expected to contribute to the administration’s efforts to build a more efficient, responsive and people-centred healthcare system capable of delivering improved services to residents across Edo State.

Speaking during the training, the Director, Health Services and Standards, EDOHIC, Dr. Osayuki Edosa-Iyayi, who delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Mrs. Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, said the training was critical to ensuring a smooth transition from manual operations to the new digital system.

Dr. Edosa-Iyayi said the portal was developed to improve productivity within the Commission while making healthcare processes faster and more seamless for both enrollees and healthcare providers.

She explained that processes that previously required manual intervention, including verification of an enrollee’s details and CIN number, obtaining authorisations and processing referrals, would now be handled electronically.

“Basically, what the Commission has done is introduce software solutions to enhance productivity at the level of the Commission. When an enrollee goes to the hospital, from verifying their name and CIN number to obtaining authorisation and referrals, everything has been automated,” she said.

According to her, the automation would significantly reduce waiting and turnaround times, particularly when health facilities require approval for referrals or other authorisations, as requests and responses would be processed through the digital platform.

The Technical Adviser to the Director-General, EDOHIC, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Odungide, described the training as a crucial step in preparing stakeholders for the transition.

Mrs. Odungide said the platform represents a significant upgrade from the manual system previously operated by the Commission, particularly in claims processing.

“With the automation of our processes, there will definitely be faster response time. The system we operated before now was more or less manual, so this is a definite upgrade. With the automation, there will be reduced waiting time for enrollees and the processes for our facility desk officers will become much more seamless,” she said.

She added that the digital system would strengthen transparency and accountability by ensuring that requests and transactions are electronically captured and tracked, improving the Commission’s ability to monitor activities and reducing opportunities for fraudulent practices.

Also speaking, a Senior Claims Officer with the Commission, Dr. Fejiro Oghi, said the portal would significantly enhance the efficiency of claims processing when fully deployed.