Domesticate NHIA to reduce financial burden on Nigerians – NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority as a first step to improve the current economic crisis in the country.

READ ALSO:NMA seeks legislative action against organ trafficking

The State Chairman, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu made the call in his New Year message, raising concern that the healthcare system is in danger and that the country’s economic crisis is only going to make things worse.

Olowojebutu stressed the importance of domesticating NHIA, lamenting that some Nigerians lost their loved ones or struggled to get adequate healthcare service due to the recent economic downturn.

In 2022, former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), signed into law the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022.

The bill repealed the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 1999 and established the National Health Insurance Authority Act, of 2022, to oversee and regulate Health Insurance Schemes.

According to the summary of the new Act, the NHIA was given new and enlarged duties that enable it to operate as a regulator, implementer, investor, and insurer of health insurance policies and programmes in Nigeria.

With the establishment of the NHIA Act, every Nigerian is now mandated to get health insurance Speaking on the Act, the NMA chair explained that the domestication of the NHIA will engender significant progress that would ensure that healthcare services are not just accessible but also affordable, allowing every citizen to enjoy the right to quality healthcare without being financially burdened.

“We must not allow last year’s burden to trap us or preclude us from enjoying the inexplicable blessings of the New Year. While I expect this piece to offer hope to the downcast, it must also serve as a heads-up to our leaders and those in authority.

“First, it is imperative to appreciate the government for exerting laudable efforts in advancing our healthcare system. However, there is more to be done. This urgency spurred me to make this essential health need the primary premise of my New Year message.

“There is no better time to domesticate the National Health Insurance Authority Act than now,” he added.

Olowojebutu also maintained that the government must become dedicated to enhancing primary healthcare services by recognising that a strong foundation is critical to a robust healthcare system – by investing in the grassroots, thereby fortifying the very fabric of our nation’s health and nurturing the well-being of communities from the ground up,”

He said, “Another efficient approach to advancing the healthcare system is for the government to exhibit an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable in our society, particularly the precious lives of children under 5 and our revered elderly.

“Intentional effort must be pledged to bolster their welfare, ensuring that no one is left behind and that the golden years of our seniors are characterized by dignity and comfort.

“The tireless warriors on the front lines of healthcare deserved the government’s deepest gratitude, encouragement, and adequate compensation.

“Their unwavering commitment, especially amid unprecedented challenges, has been heroic. In this New Year, the government must resolutely act not just to promise to improve their welfare but recognise that a well-supported healthcare workforce is the backbone of a robust healthcare system.

“This will significantly ameliorate the massive medical brain drain bedevilling our nation.”

Punch/Wumi