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Tag: Health Insurance

  • Why Nigerians must take advantage of health insurance, by NHIA DG

    Why Nigerians must take advantage of health insurance, by NHIA DG

    The Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Professor Mohammed Sambo, has charged the state offices of the authority to ensure that no life in their domains is left uncovered under health insurance.

    Sambo, who made the call in Kaduna on Monday, October 16, while receiving the Award of Excellence from the Kaduna State office of the Authority, said with the 2022 NHIA Act 2022, health insurance, is now mandatory for all Nigerians and legal residents of the Country.

    Represented at the event by Sulaiman Ibrahim, the Ag. Director of Special Duties of the Authority, Sambo said the Authority has been well repositioned and placed on the right pedestal to achieve its statutory mandate of attaining Universal Health Coverage, especially with the birth of the new NHIA Act 2022.

    He said the NHIA Act 2022 has introduced some landmark innovations such as redefining the objects of the Authority and streamlining the objects of the Authority. 

    Sambo stated: “Accordingly, NHIA is to regulate, integrate, and promote health insurance in Nigeria. The Act has made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and legal residents, and the established Vulnerable Group Fund to subsidize the cost of health care services to vulnerable persons in Nigeria, amongst other innovations that have changed the health insurance ecosystem. 

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    “The Authority has recently unveiled the new Operational Guidelines that would explain and amplify the new law’s provisions. Therefore, I urge you to take advantage of the new health insurance landscape in order to take health insurance to the last man, woman, and the needy on the street.

    “This event is remarkably important for its novelty and timing, in that, it is the first time that a State Chapter of the NHIA would spare time amid its numerous duties to look inward to appreciate and award its Chief Executive Officer, for providing selfless, purposeful and farsighted leadership to the Authority that had once been disarrayed by mismanagement and wanton disregard for law and order,” he said.

    While noting that, through the guidance of God Almighty, NHIA under his stewardship, has addressed the wrongs that characterized the organization before he took over as the Chief Executive Officer, the DG charged Kaduna and other state offices that, “you must work extra hard so that no life in your state is left uncovered under the health insurance.”

    Earlier, the Kaduna state coordinator of the Authority, Aminu Tanimu in his welcome address said the award was organized to celebrate excellence, honour outstanding achievements, and recognize individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to their respective fields under the NHIA ecosystem.

    Recipients of the Award include the Chief Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, Prof. Aishatu Armaya’u; Police Health Management Organization (HMO), Giwa Specialist Hospital; Regenix HMO; Freedom Radio 92.9; Invicta FM 98.9; Hajia Ummulkhair Sada and Alhaji Kabiru Umar among others.

  • Unions reject planned salary deduction for health insurance

    State-owned tertiary institutions in Osun State have rejected the government’s plan to start the deduction of 1.5 per cent as premium from their basic salary for the health insurance scheme.

    A letter dated June 20, 2019, and signed by the Academy Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) Colleges of Education, Ila-Orangun and Ilesa, urged the government to exclude the institutions from the deduction in the interest of industrial peace.

    The letter addressed to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was in response to the government’s letter titled: “Commencement of 1.5 per cent Deduction as Premium from the Basic Salary of all Public Servants in the state and Alignment of all state-owned Tertiary Academic Institutions with the Osun Health Insurance Scheme Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme”.

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    The letter reads in part: “We acknowledge the effects of the government to improve the general welfare of workers and residents in our dear state. The circular under reference dictates that as from May 2019, 1.5 per cent of salary would be deducted while government wills 3 per cent as counterpart fund to provide health insurance scheme for workers in the state.

    “We are constrained to use this medium to request for exemption from Osun State Health Insurance Scheme.”

  • Non-inclusion of medical test in health insurance hinders UHC 

    The non-inclusion of medical laboratory test in the basic healthcare insurance package is an obstacle to the country’s aspiration for universal health coverage (UHC), the Acting Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Mr. Tosan Erhabor, has said.

    He also noted  that the employment of non-licensed personnel to man medical laboratories in the country is also an impediment to the realisation of UHC 2030. The Acting Registrar of the council made the call when a delegation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) visited the council in Abuja.

    He said it was regrettable that health facilities across the country lacked qualified professionals, a situation he described as unhealthy for the profession.

    “Other challenges are quackery, which is due to non-inclusion of laboratory science practitioners in minimum health care package. In order to stem quackery in the profession and ensure quality assurance, all hospitals, laboratory outfits across the country must recruit qualified medical laboratory scientists with current licence or registration. All government-owned hospitals must key into external quality assurance (EQA) and medical laboratory accreditation,” he stated.

    Erhabor also decried the poor funding of the council, saying its allocation had continued to dwindle over the years, making it difficult for it to deliver effective laboratory services nationwide. He pointed out that lack of adequate funds had made it difficult for the council to set up well-equipped offices in the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

    “In 2014, the council’s approved budget was N159 million; only N63 million was released. In 2015, the capital appropriation was N20 million; out of this, only N9.4 million was released. Similarly in 2016, N15 million was allocated, but only N6.4 million was released. In 2017, there was a little improvement; out of N105 million allocated, only N50 million was released. In 2018 N38 million was allocated.

    “Considering this analysis, government’s financial support is not helping the institution. Apart from training, the capital is going down slowly and there is need to equip zonal offices, purchase utility vehicles and infrastructure for improved service delivery. Equipping the zonal offices is capital intensive and there is no way we can finance those projects except we have the support of the government.

    “The council’s revenue is not only dwindling but is going down and is not helping us. The major challenge bedeviling the council is inadequate budgetary allocation for effective regulation. We lack operational vehicles, additional infrastructure especially at the state level, general maintenance as well as dwindling support from partners,” Erhabor lamented. He, therefore, called for adequate funding for the council for it to be able to meet up with its responsibilities.

    Earlier, Kehinde Odubanjo, leader of the delegation, noted that the study tour was a facts-and-figures-finding mission in the council’s efforts at achieving UHC 2030 and overcoming obvious challenges before MLSCN.

    He said that the institute was established by the Federal Government to tackle particular problems in the country, especially in view of the theme for this year’s study tour: Funding Universal Health Coverage. He emphasised that NIPSS was not out to investigate the council, but to get to the root of the factors militating against the nation’s efforts toward achieving UHC.

    Odubanji said that the findings of the institute would be tabled before President Muhammadu Buhari. “The outcome of the research will be presented to the President, where the problem lies in this country and where we can tackle it to make health better in the nation. We will also take a study tour of six states in North and six in the Southern parts of the country and then proceed to African countries to see how it is done there and how and why they are able to succeed.

    “We will also do intercontinental tour to Europe and other countries to find out how particular people were able to succeed in UHC; but charity begins at home. Hence we started from here to know where our problem is,” he said.

     

  • NSIA launches Health Insurance

    NSIA Insurance has launched its new International Health Insurance product, NSIA Health Insurance into the Nigerian market.

    The Managing Director of NSIA Insurance, Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, in a statement made available to reporters in Lagos, said to deliver on all that is expected from an international health insurance offering, NSIA has partnered with Cigna and Hollard.

    Cigna is a Fortune 500 company in the USA and one of the world’s leading providers of health benefits enabled through its 41,000 employees serving over 90 million customers all over the world.

    Hollard on the other, is South Africa’s largest independent insurance company, with an ever-growing African footprint making it known throughout the continent for its innovative approach and customer-centric brand.

    She stated that NSIA Health Insurance provides a robust health plan to local companies who want to provide their staff with access to quality healthcare in Nigeria and beyond as well as multinationals operating in Nigeria who desire to harmonise their health insurance plan across Africa.

    She said: “The staff of these companies once enrolled, are able to access the finest quality healthcare available all over Africa and the rest of the world whenever they need such services.

    “NSIA Health Insurance is one of a kind. Companies that purchase the product are rest assured that their staff will easily access the best medical services, wherever they are in the world, when the need arises.  This is a promise that is already being fulfilled by our technical partners in Nigeria and other parts of the world where they operate.  Already, a number of leading multinationals in Nigeria have signed on to NSIA Health Insurance with many other prospects in the pipeline.

    “NSIA Health Insurance will take into consideration the different health insurance needs of organisations, whether they operate in one African country or many, or whether they are looking to cover key local staff or expatriates or both. The product offers a combination of health plans that provide optimised coverage that can be aligned to a company’s budget.”

    She said NSIA is excited about this addition to its portfolio of products, which affords it the opportunity to meet more of the insurance needs of its increasing customer base.

    The company is one of the most progressive composite insurance companies in Nigeria, with its head office located in Lagos, a strong regional presence in Abuja and large network in every strategic state. The Solvency Capital of NSIA Insurance stands at N10.7 billion as at 2017 and total asset base is N15.5 billion. NSIA Insurance is one of the most capitalised companies in the insurance industry, she noted.

  • Health insurance: Oyo targets 450,000

    IN its bid to give healthcare access to more people, the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has said that no fewer than 450,000 enrollees will be captured by the scheme before the end of the year. This was disclosed by Dr. Sola Akande, executive secretary of OYSHIA, during a two-day media dialogue on how to improve healthcare access for children and women through state-supported health insurance scheme.

    The media dialogue, organised by the state Ministry of Information in collaboration with OYSHIA and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), took place in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    Not less than 100,000 persons have been enrolled into the state health insurance scheme, which was launched 18 months ago. While other schemes focused on civil servants, OYSHIA boss said the state started by attracting enrollees in the informal sector where the bulk of the poor eke out their livelihood.

    According to him, more than 15,000 farmers, artisans and market women have joined the health insurance scheme. Unlike other state-supported health insurance schemes, Oyo health insurance is unique because the Act establishing it has a provision that two per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) be channeled into the scheme.

    While stressing the essence of having health insurance, Dr. Akande pointed out that the scheme is making it possible for enrollees to visit doctors as occasion demands with the aim of determining their health status even when they are not sick. Describing health insurance as protection against financial hazards, spreading of risks and pooling of resources to ensure that people remain healthy, the executive secretary maintained that current trend in healthcare delivery places emphasis on preventive medicine.

    Enthusing that the scheme had performed over 100 caesarian sections for pregnant women, employed medical doctors and renovated some hospitals in the state, Dr. Akande said enrolling in health insurance scheme is also changing people’s health awareness and attitudes. “The benefits are far more than what enrollees would contribute as premium. The agency has received a lot of testimonies from beneficiaries since the scheme started. It makes them to see their doctors even when nothing is wrong with them and also improving their health-seeking habit,” he said.

    He added that success recorded so far is also attributable to the ICT it deployed into its operations, which has brought about accountability and transparency. Dr. Akande insisted that running a health insurance scheme without ICT architecture makes it prone to fraudulent claims by parties, adding that OYSHIA has witnessed an increase in enrolment since it deployed comprehensive biometric of its enrollees. Besides giving independence to all stakeholders in the scheme to key into the relevant parts of the platform, the software has made it possible for health maintenance organisations, hospitals and enrollees to carry out many activities such as payments, renewal of premiums, and biometric registration online.

    Also speaking during the media dialogue, Mrs. Blessing Ejiofor, UNICEF communication specialist, said the workshop was organised in order to improve media advocacy on increasing access and uptake of healthcare services for women and children and other vulnerable segments of the population through health insurance scheme. She urged other states to emulate Oyo health insurance scheme so as to make healthcare accessible and affordable to the people, adding that an improved advocacy on health insurance will ultimately give more healthcare access to women and children.

     

  • Health insurance scandal

    From whichever prism raging controversy at the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, is viewed, the organization is unarguably, in a deep mess. Weighty allegations of financial impropriety have been traded and something very urgent and drastic has to be done to retrieve the scheme from the precipice into which it is irretrievably mired.

    As things stand, the environment of work has been badly polluted even as the safety of staff cannot be guaranteed. Not with the Gestapo entry into the headquarters of the organization by its suspended Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf.  Aided by a contingent of about 50 policemen, Yusuf reportedly confronted the staff that blocked the gate to deny him entry.  In the ensuing melee unbecoming of a governmental institution, teargas was fired by the police as he eventually made his way into his office.

    It was a shameful scene to behold. And the impression created is that of a complete breakdown of law and order within that critical institution. With the scene that played out, it has become clear there is serious resentment to the authority of the executive secretary with the staff divided along the line. The organization cannot achieve its statutory mandate in such a hostile environment.

    But it would seem the current crises could have been avoided had the relevant authorities done the needful when Yusuf was suspended last year by the minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and a panel set up to probe allegations of gross misconduct against him.  Then, the minister had sent him on suspension to enable the panel do a thorough job without encumbrances. The committee which was composed mainly of staff of the ministry found him culpable of infractions that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.

    Curiously, President Buhari overruled the minister and ignored the findings of the panel when he ordered the recall of the executive secretary. A letter to that effect urged Yusuf to work closely with the minister on resumption of duties. And that appeared to have resolved the crisis within the NHIS albeit, temporarily. Speculations regarding the rationale for the surprising reinstatement of Yusuf ranged from accusations that the panel was not independent and free from bias to inability to conclusively prove some of the allegations made against the NHIS boss by the petitioners.

    President Buhari’s order reinstating Yusuf may have been informed by these considerations. But as recent events have shown, that was not all there was to the crises. Only last week, the governing council of the scheme again suspended Yusuf accusing him of monumental financial infractions. The council handed the suspension order on him to aid thorough investigation of allegations against him.

    Chairperson of the council, Enyantu Ifenne said the council decided to suspend Yusuf after being inundated with petitions and infractions against him. The administrative panel set up by the council is to among others; examine allegations of attempt to illegally execute N30 billion investments in FGN bonds, fraudulent inflation of the cost of biometric capturing machines, unlawful staff postings, insubordination, willful defiance of council’s directives and refusal to reflect amendments made by the council in the 2018 budget. The panel has three months to report back.

    But Yusuf again resisted the suspension order and stormed the headquarters of the organization with a contingent of security men forcing his way through. And as was the case in his earlier suspension by the minister, he is challenging the powers of the governing council to suspend him. He claims by virtue of the NHIS Act, particularly sections 4 and 8, his appointment and removal from office, whether by way of suspension or otherwise, is at the instance of the president. But the same Act in Part 3 section 8(3) also stated that the executive secretary is “subject to the general direction of the council”.

    Apparently relying on the former, he would not subject himself to any suspension order unless that directly handed over to him by the president. But the same president that appointed him also appointed the minster and the governing council to supervise his activities. In his earlier suspension by the minister, he had offered the same reason though the order for his suspension was authorised by the then acting president. In his current predicament, he is at it again. How he gets to know whether his suspension order was not authorized by the president even when letters emanating from that quarters will still be passed onto him through the office of the minister remains a puzzle.

    With such mindset, should it surprise anybody that allegation of gross insubordination levied against Yusuf holds some water? And since he owes his office to the president, he is at liberty to do whatever pleases him. It is therefore not difficult to figure out that at the centre of his confrontation with his supervisors is the feeling that he can only take directive from the president.

    But the argument as to whether the Act establishing the scheme explicitly gave the council the powers to suspend the executive secretary or not is patently unnecessary. It is a mere exercise in technicality as the same Act could not have permitted a situation in which the executive secretary will be above the supervising council and the minister. It does not and cannot work that way.

    The council has accused him of insubordination and wilful defiance of its directives. It is very unlikely these are spurious allegations. If anything, his disposition to directives emanating from his supervisors goes to reinforce this. In the circumstance staff discipline will be at its lowest ebb.

    But it would appear Yusuf is not alone in his obduracy. Those beating the drums for him are somewhere watching. He is neither the first person appointed to such critical institutions nor will he be the last. He is not the only person so appointed by the president that can only be removed with the approval of the president. Why his has become an issue is the moot point. He has accused Health management organizations (HMO’s) and sundry politicians of masterminding his current predicament because he blocked their sources of ripping the scheme dry.

    That could as well be. But it is inherently deficient in accounting for why he has found himself unable to work harmoniously with the minister, the governing council and the generality of the staff. It cannot also exonerate him from the plethora of allegations levelled against him that landed him in two suspensions within about 14 months. There must be more to it than he would have us believe.

    The unmistakable impression we get is that Yusuf is bigger than the minister, bigger than the governing council and they may have to be sacrificed for him to function effectively. There is also the feeling that everything can be sacrificed and every toe stepped upon for Yusuf to have his way. If that is the feeling within government circles, the options are clear. They should go ahead and relieve the minister and the governing council of their posts since Yusuf cannot work with them. That will enable work unsupervised and perhaps report directly to the president who appointed him.

    But where the government cannot adopt this line of action, it is only rational to see the continued stay of Yusuf in that scheme as an unmitigated liability. He must be made to proceed on suspension for serious investigations into the recurring allegations against him to be thoroughly conducted. His supervisors cannot be all wrong. And for a government that brandishes the war against corruption as one of its cardinal programmes, it cannot afford to do any less. The government cannot afford to shut its eyes to the weighty allegations traded without compromising its commitment to that war.

    Before now, the government has been heavily criticized for double standards in executing the war against sleaze in public offices. Apart from allegations bordering on focusing almost solely on the opposition, it has also been criticized for looking the other way when infractions concern some of its favoured ones. The case of Yusuf fits into the characteristic double standards when officials of the Buhari administration are accused of financial infractions.

  • USAID trains Osun, Abia officials on social health insurance

    The United States Agency for International Development – Health Finance Governance project has organised a 3-day intensive training for officials of Osun and Abia states on best way to operate their health insurance schemes in the two states.

    The training, which is currently taking place in Ibadan, Oyo State has the top officials and key staff of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS) and Abia State Social Health insurance Agency in attendance.

    The Chief of Party of USAID – HFG project, Dr Gafar Alawode, in his presentations spoke extensively on “health financing within the overall health system” and “understanding the concept of universal health coverage”.

    He expressed worry that Nigeria has not attained the expected level in spite of its status as the giant of Africa. He said health insurance scheme is a necessary mechanism to achieve the universal health coverage.

    He also noted that if the citizens pay tax appropriately and government utilizes the money judiciously, more funds would go to the health sector and the healthcare delivery will improve.

    Alawode charged the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS) and Abia State Social Health insurance Agency (Abia SHIA) to ensure that the schemes cover majority of the people, particularly the rural dwellers and the downtrodden.

     

    The USAID-HFG Health Finance Advisor, Dr Ngozi

  • Don advocates extension of health insurance

    The National Chairman, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Benjamin Uzochukwu, has urged state and local governments to extend health insurance to citizens, to ensure Universal Health Coverage.

    He spoke in Enugu at an award ceremony organised by the Community Medicine Department, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH).

    The don, who works with the Community Medicine Department of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), delivered a lecture, titled: “Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Prospects and Challenges’’.

    He said the UHC could only be guaranteed through a well-funded health insurance scheme.

    Uzochukwu noted that a lot of fund is needed to ensure that everybody is protected under a health-safety net, which only UHC can guarantee.

    He hailed the Federal Government for establishing and funding the National Health Insurance, but noted that it only serves federal workers and their families.

    “The benefit of the UHC is that it covers everyone in the health-safety net, especially the indigent population that cannot bear the cost of qualitative health care, which makes it universal.

    “It ensures that the health sector and system are standardised since they serve the need of everyone,’’ the professor said.

    He said countries, such as Germany, Sweden and England succeeded in providing health care for their people “through this insurance.”

    “So, every state and local government should strive to pass health insurance bill and make a pool contribution that will help to bear the financial burden of funding qualitative health care for all,’’ Uzochukwu said.

    He listed challenges facing implementation of the scheme as lack of will, accountability, bad leadership, financial leakages, short supply of drugs, and corruption.

    Provost of ESUTH College of Medicine Prof. Anthony Ugochukwu thanked the Community Medicine Department for honouring its consultants.

    “I am proud of the department for its oneness and unity of purpose, which has made it a department to reckon with in the college,’’ he said.

    Head of Department of Community Medicine Department of ESUTH Dr. Eddy Ndibuagu said the department  set out to do more advocacy on UHC.

    He said: “We, as community health physicians, want to see how and what can be done to achieve UHC by making the common man in the village access qualitative health care.’’

    Ndibuagu said the department set out to honour professors in the department and recognise two students, who studied the course to the stage of being consultants and had been employed as lecturers.

    Six persons were honoured, including Dr. Chinonye Orji and Dr. Arinze Onyia, who were students before being engaged as consultants/lecturers.

    Others are Prof. Onwuasibe, Prof. Obionu, Prof. S.E. Asogwa and Dr. Osita Okonkwo.

  • Firm urges Nigerians to embrace health insurance

    Beep Healthcare President Gilead Okolonkwo has said health insurance is one of the major ways to address challenges faced by the health sector.

    Okolonkwo spoke during the launch of Beep Healthcare Insurance Scheme in Lagos yesterday.

    He said that the health insurance would cover many categories, noting that those without money will access free services.

    Okolonkwo fear many health challenges in future due to increase in population, pollution, lack of improved sanitation, unexpected occurrence, such as  accidents, among others.

    He called on well-meaning Nigerians to invest in health insurance for the sake of the poor in the society.

    “If anybody access the health insurance policy, you may not fall sick to use it, but someone else can benefit from it at any hospitals connected to our scheme.

    “Sometimes, when you or a family member is sick, you may not have cash to go to the hospital, but your health insurance policy will take care of everything.

    “Unfortunately, many Nigerians are ignorant of health insurance policies. Only few, about five to six per cent enjoy such policies. There is the need for more awareness. More Nigerians should invest in the scheme,” he said.

    The president said that Beep Health Insurance was connected with reputable Health Management Organisations (HMOs) in different parts of Nigeria, stressing that their policies cover individual and family plans.

     

     

  • Okowa launches health insurance scheme

    Okowa launches health insurance scheme

    Delta State government has launched a Contributory Health Insurance Scheme in Oshimili South Local Government.

    Over 5,000 widows will benefit from the programme.

    It was a carnival-like event, as women in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regalia thronged the cultural pavilion to celebrate the gesture of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

    Civil servants are benefiting from the scheme, but widows hailed the government for including them.

    Besides, the widows will be paid get N5,000 monthly.

    The Political Adviser to the governor, Mr. Festus Ochonogor, said the programme was in two parts, namely enrolment of selected widows and the payment of stipend.

    He said the scheme would ameliorate the suffering of widows and give them a sense of belonging.

    The aide said insurance premium would be paid by Governor Okowa, adding that the widows will get stipend to assist them attend hospital of their choice in the state.

    He said the widows would be paid in their wards.

    Ochonogor said coordinators in the 25 councils would move from ward to ward to pay them.

    He said the programme was designed to spread prosperity to Deltans, adding that the widows will receive the stipend from January 31.

    Governor Okowa, represented by Health Commissioner Dr. Nick Azinge, said 5,555 widows had been enrolled.

    He said 20 widows from 270 wards would receive N5,000  in addition to free medical care.

    Okowa said the scheme was to alleviate the financial and health burden of widows.

    He said the scheme would accommodate vulnerable groups, including the physically challenged

    The governor added that free medical treatment will be given to children under five years and expectant mothers.

    The Director-General, Delta Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Ben Nkechika, said the scheme was not new, adding that it was introduced “to ensure that residents have access to quality medical care.”

    A widow, Mrs. Susan Nwanchie, 63, hailed the Okowa administration, saying the scheme will enable them have access to quality health care.

    Praising the programme, another beneficiary, Mrs. Catherine Ijeoma, 58, said she had been finding it difficult to attend to her health needs in the last 10 years since she lost her husband.