‘N1.2tr Health Insurance Needed for 83 Million Vulnerable Nigerians’
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About N1·2 trillion, representing nine per cent of the national budget, is needed to cover 83 million indigent Nigerians that also represent 40 per cent out of over 200 million Nigerians, the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, has said.
The NHIA is formerly known as National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS).
He spoke while receiving an Award of Honors, known as “Semper Fidelis” from Healthcare Provider’s Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos.
Sambo explained that the NHIA Act will ensure funding via Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and taxes/levies from states in a NHIA/SHIAs collaboration that is supported by a national mechanism that would also assure quality across board.
He maintained that the newly signed NHIA Act would ensure expansion of coverage to 83 million indigent Nigerians and fulfill the mandate to ensure every Nigerian has access to qualitative and affordable healthcare services, while also achieving the overall goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said expanding health insurance coverage by 70 per cent, 80 per cent and 90 per cent will translate to a 15 per cent, 17 per cent and 19 per cent decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
Similarly, expanding health insurance coverage by 70 per cent, 80 per cent and 90 per cent will translate to a 41 per cent, 45 per cent and 49 per cent decline in Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR).
All of this is said to have been settled with the new NHIA Act facilitated by Sambo with the National Assembly and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 19, this year.
The National President, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo, presenting the award to Sambo, said it was well-thought out in recognition of his immense contributions in repositioning the critical stakeholders in Health Insurance Scheme and issues in the country.
Arigbabuwo explained that the NHIA DG has built an enduring foundation for a better relationship between HMOs, Health Care Providers. NHIA, as well as NECA and the Civil Society, noting that he has been tremendous as a team player and rallying points in regulatory functions.
“The NHIA DG consistency and transparency with transformational agenda so far is worthy of emulation. The recent achievement of Universal Health Coverage modalities with signage of Mandatory Health Insurance bill into Law on May 19, 2022, by the NHIA ACT 17, remains a living testimony of changing the narratives and gameplay in Nigeria health insurance projects.
“Stakeholders in the sector have developed mutual respect for one another under the administration of Prof. Sambo. The title “Semper Fidelis is a “Latin phrase” meaning “Always Constant, especially to a national course. He is the first nominee and winner of this Prestigious Award of the national body of HCPAN and we are proud of what he has done uniting stakeholders and resolving many issues we have had over the years,” he added.
By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo
https://thenationonlineng.net/n1-2tr-health-insurance-needed-for-83-million-vulnerable-nigerians/
