Health insurance now mandatory for Nigerians – NHIA DG

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Health Insurance Authority, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, has said the new NHIA Act 2022, now makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

Speaking at its stakeholder’s forum, held at NHIA Lagos, Sambo in his presentation titled, The National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022: Critical areas of modification and strategy for implementation, said the NHIA Act was signed into law by the President, Major General Muhammad Buhari (retd.), on May 19, 2022, repealing NHIS Act 2004.

He added that it would give hope to 83m vulnerable Nigerians. He said the critical areas of modification were in nomenclature, NHIS to NHIA and the objective of the organisation should be to promote, regulate and integrate.

“Health e-Insurance for every Nigerian and legal resident should be mandatory.

‘‘For the Vulnerable Group Fund, Council should submit developed criteria for disbursement to the minister for approval and disbursement to SHIAs. For the States roles, the Act establishes SSHIAs/health contributory management agencies and the Operational modification of NHIA should drive basic minimum package of health care. It should have the power to sanction, review of tariffs and timely resolution of disputes.’’

He added that the strategy for implementation of the Act was in the following thematic areas, legal and regulatory issues, administrative and financial issues, technical issues, policy and advocacy issues and cross-cutting issues.

The Deputy General Manager and State Coordinator of the Yaba State Office, Mrs Catherine Tanzamado, stressed that the new NHIA Act 2022 would ensure that all Nigerians were covered with a basic minimum package of health services.

Temitope/Punch