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The short answer
Asaba's main public hospitals are the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba and the state's Asaba Specialist Hospital, alongside primary health centres and private hospitals. The Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) runs the state health scheme: its informal plan costs ₦7,000 a year per person, the state pays for pregnant women, children under five, over-65s and other vulnerable groups, and cover starts 60 to 90 days after payment is confirmed. Care begins at a primary facility, with referral for anything beyond it.
When someone falls ill in Asaba, the cost of care depends on where they go and whether they are enrolled in the Delta State health scheme. This guide explains the main types of hospital in the city, how the DSCHC scheme works, how to enrol, and what you will still pay out of pocket.
Where people go for care in Asaba
- Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba
- A federal tertiary hospital for specialist care and referrals.
- Asaba Specialist Hospital
- A Delta State Government specialist hospital in the capital.
- Primary health centres
- Government clinics in communities for routine care, immunisation, antenatal visits and minor illness. Under DSCHC, this is usually where care starts.
- Private hospitals and clinics
- Range from small clinics to large hospitals. Some are accredited DSCHC providers; many are not.
Ask any hospital, public or private, whether it is an accredited DSCHC provider before you rely on your card there, and ask for the price of a consultation before you are seen if you will be paying yourself.
How the DSCHC scheme works
The Delta State Contributory Health Commission runs the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme. Enrollees get access to a defined benefit package, starting at public and private primary health care facilities, with referral to secondary and tertiary facilities when a case is beyond the primary level. The full list of services is in the commission's benefit package document.
| Plan | Who it is for | Premium (DSCHC site, checked Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Employees; premium deducted from payroll with an employer contribution. Covers principal, spouse and up to four children under 18. | Not stated on the page |
| Informal | Individuals who pay for themselves. Covers only that person. | ₦7,000 a year |
| Equity | Pregnant women, children under five, people over 65, people with physical or mental disabilities, and residents classified as poor. | ₦7,000 a year, paid by the state |
| Private | Extra premium for additional services beyond the basic package. | Not stated on the page |
How to enrol
- Choose your plan. If you work for the state or a participating employer, ask HR whether you are already on the formal plan.
- Pay the premium. For the informal plan that is ₦7,000 for a year.
- Register at the DSCHC head office at No. 10 DBS Road, Asaba, at a DSCHC liaison office in any of the 25 local government headquarters, through a branded DSCHC field registration agent, or on the DSCHC Android app from the Google Play Store.
- Collect your identity card, which you show at your health care provider.
- Wait for activation: services begin 60 to 90 days after full payment is confirmed.
What you still pay
- Anything outside the benefit package. Check the package document; some drugs, tests and procedures are not covered.
- Care before your cover starts. During the 60 to 90 day wait you pay as a private patient.
- Care at non-accredited facilities. Your card only works where the provider is accredited.
- Extras. Additional services need the private plan's extra premium.
- Transport, food and a carer's costs during a hospital stay.
Worked example
Example only. A self-employed couple with two children aged 3 and 7 in Asaba: the 3-year-old falls under the equity plan, paid by the state. The two adults and the 7-year-old enrol on the informal plan at ₦7,000 each, ₦21,000 a year in total, or ₦1,750 a month. A pregnant mother would also qualify under the equity plan for the period of pregnancy.
If you are asked to pay for a covered service
Being charged for services a scheme should cover is a known problem nationally. The National Health Insurance Authority's 2024 complaints report, as reported by ICIR in June 2025, listed out-of-pocket payment for covered services and denial of service among the complaints against facilities; it recorded 3,507 complaints, of which 2,929 were resolved, and said facilities had been warned, made to refund money, suspended or delisted. That report covers NHIA's national scheme, not DSCHC specifically, but the lesson applies in Asaba too.
- Ask the facility to show why the item is outside the benefit package.
- Get a receipt for anything you pay, with a description of the service.
- Report the case to DSCHC using the contacts below, with your enrollee card number and the receipt.
Contacts
DSCHC lists its address as the Governor's Office, 10 DBS Road, Asaba, its email as info@dschc.org.ng, and several phone lines on its website, including 09062739020 and 09062739009. Check the website for the full and current list before calling.
For sizing a fund for care the scheme does not cover, see how big your emergency fund should be. For how health fits a household budget, see a family budget for Asaba and cost of living for one person in Asaba.
Where Pryme fits
A Flexible Savings Box can hold an emergency fund for care outside the scheme (Savings Boxes), and a Personal Assistant can remind you when your DSCHC renewal is due (Personal Assistant).
Questions people ask
How much is Delta State health insurance?
DSCHC lists its informal plan at ₦7,000 a year per person. The state pays the same premium for pregnant women, children under five, over-65s and other vulnerable groups.
How do I register for DSCHC?
Pay the premium, then register at the DSCHC head office at 10 DBS Road, Asaba, a liaison office in any of the 25 LGA headquarters, a DSCHC field agent or the DSCHC Android app.
When does DSCHC cover start?
Services begin 60 to 90 days after your full payment is confirmed.
Can I use my DSCHC card at FMC Asaba?
Care normally starts at a primary facility, with referral to secondary and tertiary hospitals. Ask DSCHC or the hospital how referral works for your plan.
Sources
- Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC): scheme, plans and enrolment · accessed Oct 2026
- ICIR: Service failure, NHIA sanctions 49 health facilities, 47 HMOs (30 Jun 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.