NHIA, stakeholders seek universal health coverage for Nigerians

Simisola AdigunJuly 1, 2023

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As part of measures to mitigate the challenges of universal health coverage in Nigeria, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS), has organised a stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate ways to tackle address them.

One of which is to ensure an inclusive, efficient, sustainable, and affordable healthcare service for Nigerians,

NHIS was enacted in May 2022 to ensure the effective implementation of the National Health Insurance Policy that would facilitate the attainment of universal health coverage, a trajectory that would be all-inclusive for both the rich and vulnerable.

Speaking at the event, the Zonal Coordinator, NHIA, Olufemi Akingbade, said that before now, people thought the scheme was for public servants only.

He, however, reiterated that the scheme was for all Nigerians.

According to to him, “NHIA is bridging the gap so people can have access to qualify health care,” which is often caused by poverty, lack of awareness and weak leadership.

Akingbade, further revealed various packaged introduced by the NHIA for cancer treatment at selected centres, which include Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital Zaria, Federal Medical Centre Gombe, National Hospital Abuja, and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin.

Others include the University College Hospital Ibadan and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu to its initial group of individual, social, and family health insurance programme.