The Presidential reforms of the operations of the Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria has received a significant boost with the unveiling of the National Health Insurance Research Agenda.
The document was presented in Abuja, to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS, Professor Mohammed Sambo by the lead consultant of the project, Prof Adegbenga Sumola.
Research roadmap
Receiving the research roadmap, Professor Sambo emphasised the role of research in the industrial and socio-economic development of any nation, stressing that ”no nation can record meaningful progress without giving research its pride of place.”
He said; “Research is the quest for new knowledge to solve society’s problems. This means that no society can develop its human and material resources without research.”
Ongoing reforms
Giving insight into the depth of impact of the ongoing reforms of the health insurance sector, Professor Sambo said that the research agenda was consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari Next level agenda for health which anchors on evidence-based strategic decision making process.
He noted that a three-point rebranding agenda, which has working with evidence as one of its central elements, initiated under his watch, has enabled the achieving of a number of significant milestones in reshaping the health insurance ecosystem.
Commending the lead consultant for the painstaking effort put into producing the document, Professor Sambo promised that the Scheme would apply due diligence in the implementation of research agenda in the lead up to the attainment of affordable and quality healthcare for all Nigerians, expressing the optimism that ”the document would attract development partners to commit resources into finding research programmes.”
The lead consultant, Professor Adegbenga Sumola explained that the document was detailed and left no area of health insurance unattended to, adding that the agenda would enable the scheme to be more strategic and systematic in addressing various challenges of the health insurance sector.
The Scheme had unveiled and began the implementation of a 10-year strategic plan to culminate in the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC).
Mercy Chukwudiebere
