FG Committed To Continually Review Health Insurance, Says Minister

Ekumankama Nkama, the Minister of State for Health says the Federal Government is committed to continually evaluating health insurance to enable it to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of the “Dissemination of Research Findings on Patients’ Satisfaction with the Services Provided Under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)“.

The research was carried out by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) with sponsorship from the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).

According to Nkama, the Federal Ministry of Health has the vision to attain UHC for all Nigerian citizens so that all would have access to quality, safe and comprehensive health care service that was affordable, accessible and acceptable.

He also said that constant and consistent monitoring and evaluation of performance in order to identify gaps for timely and appropriate intervention to improve access to essential and quality health services for Nigerians was important.

“A strategic and sure way to achieve UCH in Nigeria is through social insurance which is operational as the NHIA.

“This initiative has undergone several reforms since its inception to increase coverage and improve the accountability framework.

“Government will continue to evaluate and improve this scheme until we attain the goal of ‘health for all in Nigeria”, he said.

He commended the efforts of both organisations, saying it would go a long way in strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system.

Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of Science and Technology, said that the ministry would give full support for the research findings to be patented.

Bassey Mej, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister, who represented Mamora, said that the ministry had the mandate to coordinate research works from all research institutions in Nigeria.

“Loads of things government will want to delve into will be issues that are centred on the welfare and security of its citizens.

“So when the welfare in terms of health issues and health security issues are taken care of you have sound citizens and consequently a sound nation and happy people will indirectly transform to a happy nation.”

Also speaking Omowunmi Gbadamosi, the Country Director of CIPE, said that effective health services could only be provided through deliberate policy formulation and effective implementation with the involvement of key stakeholders.

“The need for targeted health system reform is urgently particular in the area of social health insurance if Nigeria is to enhance access to good health care and improve on UHC.

“This is the reason the report being inaugurated today seeks to provide an understanding of the performance of NHIA, the challenges and key areas requiring significant reform.

“The new Act will require funding to be effective and sustainable and funding for the health scheme cannot be achieved without the trust and buy-in of the populace, especially the private sector stakeholders”, she added.