Health Insurance: FG targets 50 million Nigerians by 2027

On Jul 25, 2023

The Federal Government says it would expand the country’s health insurance coverage to target at least, 50 million Nigerians within the next four years. The FG said one of the principal objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration is to achieve universal health coverage by ensuring that all Nigerians have access to qualitative healthcare.

Speaking on Monday, at the 40th Anniversary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno State, Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that the Federal Government is committed to reaching out to millions of Nigerians through the health insurance scheme.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Kolo, he assured Nigerians of access to quality healthcare services through strengthened primary and secondary health facilities.

Shettima noted that the FG would expand insurance coverage to reach, at least, a minimum of 50 million Nigerians by 2027 to ensure that the masses get access to good healthcare delivery like their counterparts in the developed world.

According to him, the priorities of President Tinubu’s health agenda include health governance, leadership and institutional reforms, health financing and reducing out-of-pocket spending.

Others, he said are integrated healthcare delivery; local manufacturing of health products, expanding investment in medical education, reversing brain drain and medical tourism.

Shettima, however, revealed that the FG has approved the payment of allowances for resident doctors.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, congratulated the Teaching Hospital for the milestone it achieved in the health sector, urging the facility to embrace smart medicine through the use of artificial intelligence, technology and data science to upgrade its services.

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, said in the last 40 years, the hospital has provided services to over 33 million people, thereby increasing the level of patronage by 150 per cent.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, called on the management of the hospital to focus on training medical professionals in the areas of cancer, kidney and heart, so that they can take care of the special needs of people in the region and beyond.

Wumi/punch