Enrollees under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria,NHIS, will be paying only 20% for Cancer drugs.
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The Executive Secretary of the NHIS Professor Mohammed Sambo disclosed this in Abuja, Nigeria at a World Press Conference.
Professor Sambo also noted that the NHIS has an arrangement with some pharmaceutical companies and Drug Management Organization to brand selected drugs within the à ecosystem to resolve the lingering problem of drug supply in the system.
“The Roche which is a very well-known pharmaceutical company have indicated interest to manufacture drug for cancer they are ready to give about 50% subsidy for NHIS , that is to say if the drug is one hundred thousand naira, Roche will be able to sale it to NHIS enrollee at fifty thousand naira. And NHIS will pay 30% of that cost then the patience will pay only 20% of the cost. This is unprecedented in the history of the Health Care Delivery System of Nigeria, He affirmed
Executive Secretary noted that the NHIS-Roche Cost Sharing Initiative has been unveiled in six tertiary hospitals across the country.
“With this initiatives , cancer drugs will now be highly subsidized these include University Teaching Hosipital in Ibadan, Oyo state, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, University of Gombe Teaching Hosital, Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo state, Zaria Teaching hospital , Kaduna state , Aminu Kano Teaching Hosital, Kano State and National Hospital Abuja”. He said.
Professor Sambo explained that the NHIS has gone further to develop a comprehensive digital technology infrastructure called the e-NHIS to ensure the automation of the Scheme which will end bureaucracy and quality service delivery in the system
“This infrastructure developed by NogComSat and it’s partners will completely automate health insurance business processes in the country.In few weeks ahead , the Minister of Health , Dr.Osagie Ehanire , will invite Mr President to launch this game changing project,” He said
Speaking on the Health Insurance penetration in the rural areas , the ES said that the scheme has now been decentralised
“It is important to observe that most of these states are currently enrolling staff of the public sector in addition to the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund for the vulnerable populations. Therefore, the total number of Nigerians that are currently covered can only be obtained when summation or aggregation of these figures is done”Professor Sambo emphasised
He also revealed that the NHIS has so far disbursed fourteen Billion , two hundred and ninety two million , six hundred and eight four thousand , seven hundred and sixty seven Naria to benefitting states under and Basic Health Care Provide Fund,BHCPF.
He also noted that “to ensure transparency and monitoring of the Funds in States , before the bursement funds there is a guideline which defines clearly a monitoring and tracking mechanism to ensure that every kobo meant for Basic Health Provision Fund are disbursed to all the gateways.And also go ahead to monitor and track whatever the gateways have done.There also a Multilayer governing structure that will ensure adherence to all these arrangement as well as engaging International Partners to ensure accountability”.
He noted that the scheme has worked assiduously to address the numerous identified operational lapses
“One year after assuming office I delisted ten Health Management Organisations, HMOs, who have not been able to fulfill the mandate as enshrined in the guide line of the NHIS. This is the first time since the existence of the Scheme.
The improvement that we see in terms of meeting obligations by health care providers is not unconnected willed that hammer on HMOs who are becoming more efficient in their service delivery with the biannual reaccreditation any HMOs that doesn’t meet up with their obligation are delisted. This can not be reversed because we have a clear mandate to restore confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme“. Prof. Sambo warned.
He added that the NHIS had addressed delay in payment of HMOs, payment of providers ,denial of service to enrollees , delay on accreditation and accreditation of HMOsHCPs,limited knowledge of enrolled rights and obligations as well delay in issuance of referral codes by HMOs, poor treatment of enrolled by HealthCare Providers, HMCs and poor enforcement of sanctions on erring HMOs and HCPs.
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