*NHIA official highlights state govts role
By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
The roles state governments have been assigned to play for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage through Mandatory Health Insurance in Nigeria include to implement the national health insurance policy in their respective states.
Other roles are to “provide health benefit package as outlined by the BMP of the National Health Act.”
The states will provide health insurance coverage for vulnerable persons, receive contributions from formal and informal sector employees “based on agreed matrix of coverage with the NHIA.”
Lagos State Coordinator of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Haruna, provided the outlines while shedding light on the provisions of Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Act 2022.
She added that among other responsibilities, state governments will collaborate with NHIA to ensure that all Nigerians are covered with health insurance.
Giving highlights of National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, Abubakar Haruna pointed out that health insurance in Nigeria has become mandatory for every citizen and legal residents.
“This is to engender the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Section 3 (6) & 24,” she explained.
While clarifying issues on why the Act established States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shemes, the Lagos State Coordinator of NHIA said, “This is to strengthen collaboration between NHIA and states for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage Sec 13(1).”
She disclosed that the vulnerable group fund of the scheme is giving hope to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians.
The NHIA chief pointed out that the vulnerable group funding will be sourced from Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), health insurance levy, special intervention fund, return on investment, grants, donation, gifts and voluntary contributions.
According to her, all employers of the public or private sectors with five members of staff and above are required to obtain health insurance cover for their employees.
“All other residents in Nigeria are required to obtain health insurance. Employers can purchase supplementary health insurance for their employees. Informal sector employees and individuals can purchase supplementary or complementary health insurance,” the NHIA official elaborated.
She emphasized that at the present time, health insurance is compulsory in Nigeria, and warned that it is an offence not to have health insurance coverage in the country henceforward.
“A fine exists for not having health insurance – Section 14,” the NHIA coordinator stressed.
