Transformative Health Insurance Scheme to Cover 83 Million Nigerians

Eko Hot blog reports that In a bid to give 83 million vulnerable Nigerians access to quality health care , the Federal Government has launched the operational guidelines for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

The admission of citizens into this health insurance scheme , which  is in line with the full implementation of its National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022 aims to provide a working affordable and available health Insurance process across the country.

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The NHIA Act 2022, which replaced the 2004 law, recognizes the decentralised state of health insurance in Nigeria, provides for the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF), and empowers the NHIA to promote, regulate, and integrate health insurance schemes across the country.

Unveiling the operational guidelines yesterday in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the country had made some progress in health insurance since the inauguration of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) before its transformation to NHIA with a national coverage of between eight and nine per cent of the population.

The minister disclosed that the government was set to tackle high rate of out-of-pocket spending by families to access healthcare in parley with other health care sectors.

Pate said the establishment of the NHIA and the launch of the operational guidelines pointed to the seriousness the government attached to them.

The minister said the target of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to have at least 50 million Nigerians enrolled in a few years.

He said: “These guidelines are meant to provide direction… We will work in a concerted way to expand the affordability of healthcare for the population in our country, especially the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.

“These guidelines have been developed in a consultative manner with all actors – public, private sectors, civil society – and with engagement of state governments.

“So, it’s Nigeria coming together to say that people should not be pushed into poverty because of the cost of ill-health.

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“And so, as we implemented on the basis of these guidelines, we should see more Nigerians are covered over time to meet the goals that have been set by Mr. President for his administration. We have over seven of the Global Health Insurance Programme.

Pate, Who described the Presidents goal as transformative explained that a higher rate of coverage was expected in the next few years compared to the 10% available to cover the most vulnerable groups which is under the Basic Health Provision Fund (BHCPF).

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