The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is undergoing repositioning efforts to effectively address the challenge of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
Alh. Adamu Abdullahi, the zonal coordinator of the agency in the North Central zone, shared this information during an interactive session with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Abdullahi emphasized the agency’s commitment to including Nigerians living in rural communities across the country in the health insurance scheme. He highlighted the introduction of the Groups, Individuals, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) policy scheme, which aims to provide health insurance coverage for every Nigerian. The former President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the NHIA Bill into law on May 19, 2022, making health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.
To achieve the goal of universal health coverage by 2030, Abdullahi mentioned the NHIA’s ongoing reforms, including value system reorientation, transparency promotion, and accountability. The agency will also focus on consolidating existing programs and introducing innovations to accelerate progress.
Alh. Yahaya Ahmed, the Kwara State coordinator of NHIA, highlighted that the new Act empowers the authority to regulate service providers, health facilities, and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), ensuring the protection of enrolees’ interests in the insurance scheme. The NHIA has initiated collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry to support enrollees with medical conditions not covered by the health insurance scheme.
