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Tag: NHIS crisis

  • Federal Govt keeps mum on NHIS crisis

    More than two months after the presidential panel set up to probe the crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) submitted its report, nothing has been heard on the controversy. VINCENT IKUOMOLA writes on the findings of the panel and the delay in implementing its recommendations.

    What is the outcome of the Presidential Investigative Panel on the leadership crisis that has been rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the last few years?

    This is the question begging for an answer in and outside the health sector.

    To resolve the incessant crisis and mistrust in a scheme that is critical to the attainment of universal health coverage in the country, the Federal Government set up a probe panel, which included the Prof. Usman Yusuf-led management team and the NHIS board, led by Dr. Eyantu Ifenne.

    That was not the first time the NHIS boss would run into murky waters. He was first suspended and queried by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, which led to accusations and counter-accusations. The outcome of the panel instituted by Prof. Adewole at the instance of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, then Acting President, did not see the light of the day.

    Much to the chagrin of watchers of the unfolding drama in the sector, Prof Yusuf, who was placed on indefinite suspension, was recalled by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari without any recourse to the outcome of the panel.

    Rather than fizzle out, the matter escalated, as the embattled NHIS boss’ second coming soon drew another round of controversies when he engaged in a running battle with the scheme’s board.

    The board and Prof Yusuf were embroiled in the faceoff for months over the scheme’s budget. Prior to the suspension of Yusuf, the board had refused to approve the budget for the running of the scheme following a disagreement on the proposal put forward by the suspended executive secretary. This led to his suspension and investigation by a committee set up by the board, opening another floodgate of accusations and counter accusations.

    Yusuf did not accept his suspension by the board, claiming that the board lacked the power to suspend him.

    When it was thought that peace had returned to the scheme, the bubble burst again. What started like a smoke soon snowballed into a fire; Yusuf was sent on his second suspension within 15 months. He was suspended on allegations of fraud, insubordination, criminal breach of Procurement Act, self-aggrandisement, and arbitrariness, among others. The romance between board and Yusuf only lasted three months, before the N25 billion planned investment for the scheme tore them apart.

    According to The Nation investigation, before Yusuf’s reinstatement in February, the then Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Attahiru Ibrahim, raised the idea of investing N25 billion of the scheme’s fund, on which he got the approval of the minister as there was no board in place then. However, a memo from the Ministry of Finance advising the Minister of Health against the idea was forwarded to the management of the scheme, nullifying the initial approval.

    But on resumption of office, Yusuf was alleged to have dusted the file and without recourse to the second memo from the minister, went to the board for approval. The board, it was learnt, found out about the other memo and felt bad that the executive secretary failed to let them know about the second memo. Then came the issue of budget for the running of the scheme. The budget submitted to the board was rejected five times on the grounds that it was unrealistic; hence, the executive secretary was asked to adjust it to reflect what was agreed by the board.

    The chair of the board, Dr. Ifenne, argued in a memo to NHIS boss, which was exclusively obtained by The Nation, that any attempt to approve the budget as presented would be misconstrued as a conspiracy to defraud the scheme. The board chair, therefore, implored Yusuf to reflect the council’s positions on the contentious areas as enumerated and re-present same for authorisation.

    The scheme, responsible for the regulation of the health insurance scheme in the country, did not have a budget to drive its 2018 operation two months to the end of the year. The management revised the budget submitted to the board, proposed revenue/income of N44.92 billion and expenditure of N64.73 billion, with a budget deficit of N19.81 billion, which was rejected as not reflecting the outcome of the board deliberations. The board rejected the budget on the ground that the deficit was unacceptably high at 30.6%. Besaides, the board pointed out that the revised budget was embellished with some suspicious duplication of expenditure items worth N264.9 million.

    Other observations by the board included the non-reflection of the N64 million allocations from the Federal Government in the revenue projections of 2018.

    No doubt, the feud has impacted negatively on the activities and responsibilities of the scheme, with enrollees bearing the brunt.

    However, to get to the bottom of the issues and reposition the scheme, the Presidency stepped in and set up a panel to look into the matter and come out with implementable recommendations. The panel, inaugurated on November 2, 2018 and charged with a five-point terms of reference, including the responsibility for examining all governance issues challenging the scheme, was given two weeks to submit its report. However, the assignment had to be extended due to the nature of the work and the need to address core issues on a lasting basis.

    Finally, after about two months, the panel turned in its report, precisely on December 24, 2018. More than two months after receiving the report, nothing has been heard from the government while the scheme is still being run by an acting Executive Secretary. However, it was gathered that one of the recommendations made by the committee was for the government to set up a draft white paper committee on the implementation of most of the report.

    Besides, it was also gathered that the outcome of the panel on the leadership crisis in the NHIS may not be favorable to Yusuf. According to findings, the panel noted that Yusuf was unable to work harmoniously with stakeholders, which impacted negatively on the scheme. The panel, it was learnt, also established cases of infractions of the public service rules against the embattled executive secretary. The panel therefore recommended for Prof Yusuf’s removal and also urged the Federal Government to set up a draft white paper committee on the implementation of suggestions of the panel to restructure the scheme.

    Besides, the panel, it was learnt also frowned against Yusuf’ failure to explore internal administrative remedies before filing a suit in court against the Federal Government.

    The panel report  stated: “Leadership problems: In view of the unhealthy relationship between the executive secretary and other stakeholders, (management staff, local unions, HMO’s Health care providers) as well as infractions of the extant rules and regulations, recommended that the executive secretary be relieved of his appointment.”

    The panel also established cases of infractions of the provisions of the procurement Act, sections 16(6) and 32(7), also rules 3125 (I) (a) and (b) of the financial regulations. Also, the panel recommended that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation should undertake an in-depth inspection of the scheme account books to determine current financial status of the scheme and also to take financial system review. To avoid a vacuum and ensure a smooth running of the scheme, the panel also recommended an interim management team with six months life span.

    The panel, which was set up by the Secretary to the Government Federation (SGF) following the suspension of Yusuf by the NHIS board, also recommended a total audit of the scheme. Receiving the report of the Presidential Independent Fact-Finding Panel on NHIS, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said that government regards the scheme as critical to its promise to Nigerians that they would enjoy qualitative and affordable healthcare.

    He noted that government also regards healthcare delivery as a cardinal programme on which huge investments have been committed because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”I receive this report with deep sense of appreciation and I assure you that the report would be expeditiously processed for implementation. I must thank you most sincerely for all the sacrifices made to ensure that this healthcare scheme which also borders on our security as a nation is made to stand firm on its feet and remain beneficial to all Nigerians.

    “Finally, let me assure you that the decision of government on the recommendations of the panel will be made public at the appropriate time. I also want to assure all Nigerians that this government remains very committed to making life worth living,” Mustapha said.

    Would Prof. Yusuf survive the latest suspension? Would he escape another sword of Damocles? Would he come out of the fire unhurt as he did in the first suspension saga? These and many more questions are waiting to be answered.

  • Federal Govt keeps mum on NHIS crisis

    More than two months after the presidential panel set up to probe the crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) submitted its report, nothing has been heard on the controversy. VINCENT IKUOMOLA writes on the findings of the panel and the delay in implementing its recommendations.

    What is the outcome of the Presidential Investigative Panel on the leadership crisis that has been rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the last few years?

    This is the question begging for an answer in and outside the health sector.

    To resolve the incessant crisis and mistrust in a scheme that is critical to the attainment of universal health coverage in the country, the Federal Government set up a probe panel, which included the Prof. Usman Yusuf-led management team and the NHIS board, led by Dr. Eyantu Ifenne.

    That was not the first time the NHIS boss would run into murky waters. He was first suspended and queried by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, which led to accusations and counter-accusations. The outcome of the panel instituted by Prof. Adewole at the instance of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, then Acting President, did not see the light of the day.

    Much to the chagrin of watchers of the unfolding drama in the sector, Prof Yusuf, who was placed on indefinite suspension, was recalled by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari without any recourse to the outcome of the panel.

    Rather than fizzle out, the matter escalated, as the embattled NHIS boss’ second coming soon drew another round of controversies when he engaged in a running battle with the scheme’s board.

    The board and Prof Yusuf were embroiled in the faceoff for months over the scheme’s budget. Prior to the suspension of Yusuf, the board had refused to approve the budget for the running of the scheme following a disagreement on the proposal put forward by the suspended executive secretary. This led to his suspension and investigation by a committee set up by the board, opening another floodgate of accusations and counter accusations.

    Yusuf did not accept his suspension by the board, claiming that the board lacked the power to suspend him.

    When it was thought that peace had returned to the scheme, the bubble burst again. What started like a smoke soon snowballed into a fire; Yusuf was sent on his second suspension within 15 months. He was suspended on allegations of fraud, insubordination, criminal breach of Procurement Act, self-aggrandisement, and arbitrariness, among others. The romance between board and Yusuf only lasted three months, before the N25 billion planned investment for the scheme tore them apart.

    According to The Nation investigation, before Yusuf’s reinstatement in February, the then Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Attahiru Ibrahim, raised the idea of investing N25 billion of the scheme’s fund, on which he got the approval of the minister as there was no board in place then. However, a memo from the Ministry of Finance advising the Minister of Health against the idea was forwarded to the management of the scheme, nullifying the initial approval.

    But on resumption of office, Yusuf was alleged to have dusted the file and without recourse to the second memo from the minister, went to the board for approval. The board, it was learnt, found out about the other memo and felt bad that the executive secretary failed to let them know about the second memo. Then came the issue of budget for the running of the scheme. The budget submitted to the board was rejected five times on the grounds that it was unrealistic; hence, the executive secretary was asked to adjust it to reflect what was agreed by the board.

    The chair of the board, Dr. Ifenne, argued in a memo to NHIS boss, which was exclusively obtained by The Nation, that any attempt to approve the budget as presented would be misconstrued as a conspiracy to defraud the scheme. The board chair, therefore, implored Yusuf to reflect the council’s positions on the contentious areas as enumerated and re-present same for authorisation.

    The scheme, responsible for the regulation of the health insurance scheme in the country, did not have a budget to drive its 2018 operation two months to the end of the year. The management revised the budget submitted to the board, proposed revenue/income of N44.92 billion and expenditure of N64.73 billion, with a budget deficit of N19.81 billion, which was rejected as not reflecting the outcome of the board deliberations. The board rejected the budget on the ground that the deficit was unacceptably high at 30.6%. Besaides, the board pointed out that the revised budget was embellished with some suspicious duplication of expenditure items worth N264.9 million.

    Other observations by the board included the non-reflection of the N64 million allocations from the Federal Government in the revenue projections of 2018.

    No doubt, the feud has impacted negatively on the activities and responsibilities of the scheme, with enrollees bearing the brunt.

    However, to get to the bottom of the issues and reposition the scheme, the Presidency stepped in and set up a panel to look into the matter and come out with implementable recommendations. The panel, inaugurated on November 2, 2018 and charged with a five-point terms of reference, including the responsibility for examining all governance issues challenging the scheme, was given two weeks to submit its report. However, the assignment had to be extended due to the nature of the work and the need to address core issues on a lasting basis.

    Finally, after about two months, the panel turned in its report, precisely on December 24, 2018. More than two months after receiving the report, nothing has been heard from the government while the scheme is still being run by an acting Executive Secretary. However, it was gathered that one of the recommendations made by the committee was for the government to set up a draft white paper committee on the implementation of most of the report.

    Besides, it was also gathered that the outcome of the panel on the leadership crisis in the NHIS may not be favorable to Yusuf. According to findings, the panel noted that Yusuf was unable to work harmoniously with stakeholders, which impacted negatively on the scheme. The panel, it was learnt, also established cases of infractions of the public service rules against the embattled executive secretary. The panel therefore recommended for Prof Yusuf’s removal and also urged the Federal Government to set up a draft white paper committee on the implementation of suggestions of the panel to restructure the scheme.

    Besides, the panel, it was learnt also frowned against Yusuf’ failure to explore internal administrative remedies before filing a suit in court against the Federal Government.

    The panel report  stated: “Leadership problems: In view of the unhealthy relationship between the executive secretary and other stakeholders, (management staff, local unions, HMO’s Health care providers) as well as infractions of the extant rules and regulations, recommended that the executive secretary be relieved of his appointment.”

    The panel also established cases of infractions of the provisions of the procurement Act, sections 16(6) and 32(7), also rules 3125 (I) (a) and (b) of the financial regulations. Also, the panel recommended that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation should undertake an in-depth inspection of the scheme account books to determine current financial status of the scheme and also to take financial system review. To avoid a vacuum and ensure a smooth running of the scheme, the panel also recommended an interim management team with six months life span.

    The panel, which was set up by the Secretary to the Government Federation (SGF) following the suspension of Yusuf by the NHIS board, also recommended a total audit of the scheme. Receiving the report of the Presidential Independent Fact-Finding Panel on NHIS, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said that government regards the scheme as critical to its promise to Nigerians that they would enjoy qualitative and affordable healthcare.

    He noted that government also regards healthcare delivery as a cardinal programme on which huge investments have been committed because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”I receive this report with deep sense of appreciation and I assure you that the report would be expeditiously processed for implementation. I must thank you most sincerely for all the sacrifices made to ensure that this healthcare scheme which also borders on our security as a nation is made to stand firm on its feet and remain beneficial to all Nigerians.

    “Finally, let me assure you that the decision of government on the recommendations of the panel will be made public at the appropriate time. I also want to assure all Nigerians that this government remains very committed to making life worth living,” Mustapha said.

    Would Prof. Yusuf survive the latest suspension? Would he escape another sword of Damocles? Would he come out of the fire unhurt as he did in the first suspension saga? These and many more questions are waiting to be answered.

  • NHIS crisis: Protesting workers call for scrapping of HMOs

    The crisis in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has taken a new dimension, as protesting workers Monday called for the scrapping of the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).

    This is the fifth day of the protest.

    They insisted that the Scheme can operate without the intervention of the HMOs as it is being practiced in some African countries.

    Read Also:NHIS as symptom of dysfunctional federation

    The Vice Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NHIS chapter, Mr. Theophilus Egwadah, stated this while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja, Monday, in continuation of their protest for the Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf, to respect the suspension order given to him by the Governing Council.

    While noting that HMOs are among the major problems hindering the progress of the NHIS, Egwadah however, insisted that Prof. Usman Yusuf must step aside pending the outcome of the investigation of the allegations leveled against him.  .

    The workers however, vowed not to work with Prof. Yusuf, reiterating that President Muhammadu Buhari should compel him to step aside.

    Responding to the allegations that the union has been bought over by external influence, Egwadah noted: “HMOs are the intermediary between the regulator (NHIS) and the enrollees (the public). There is no personal relationship between me and the HMOs. In all the fora that I have attended, I have been telling them that HMOs are part of the problem we are having in NHIS.

    “The HMOs are stakeholders and have been participating in the scheme even before I was employed. We told Prof. Yusuf that this thing has to do with legislation, until the legislation takes care of these HMOs to exit them.

    “There are some African countries that are practicing their health insurance without HMOs. Some programmes like the Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) we are running without HMOs, so the HMOs are only concern in the formal sector.”

    He, however, said that not all HMOs are bad.

    “It is not all of them that are bad, there are some of them that are actually killing the scheme which we know and we have suspended one of them, particularly, Precious HMO when there are reports of compromise.

    “Prof Yusuf has not delisted any HMO, rather he is busy making noise in the media and revealing to them some of the strategies we wanted to use against them. He is fighting everybody, fighting the staff, the HMOs, fighting hospitals and everybody,” he said.

    On the way forward for the scheme, he said: “The best option is for him to step aside.

    “His appointment has not been terminated, the Council only said, go on suspension  and let the committee carry out the investigation on these infractions.

    “The EFCC and ICPC have been investigating this man since 2016, up till now they have not concluded the investigation.”

    Also, the Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN)  and NHIS joint union, Comrade Olawuyi Kayode,  called on Federal Government to mount pressure on Prof. Yusuf respects the order give to him as 2019 elections are at the corner.

    “We need to help our president because election is around the corner and we don’t want the opposition party to use this as an advantage campaigning against our president.

    “That is why we are shouting and clamouring that the appointing power lies with the president, which is not in doubt, but we want Professor Yusuf to step aside to answer to all these allegations and infractions that has been leveled against him.”

  • NHIS crisis: Fed Govt, House to the rescue

    • Council, students issue threats

    The crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is far from being over. The governing council that suspended the schemes executive secretary has threatened to quit if its decision is reversed. Students’ unions are also plan to storm the NIHS office today. But the Presidency and the House of Representatives are intervening, report VINCENT IKUOMOLA, VICTOR OLUWASEGUN, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE and YINKA ADENIRAN.

    For the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf, this is not the best of times.

    His suspension, the second in less than 18 months, has pitted workers’ unions within the scheme against one another.

    The embattled NHIS boss had showed up at work a day after his ‘indefinite suspension’ last Thursday by the scheme’s Governing Council.

    The unions staged protests and counter-protests on Monday.

    Security agents had hectic time controlling the organised protests staged by three unions at the NIHS Abuja headquarters by pro and anti-Yusuf.

    The unions are the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU).

    According to the Governing Council, Yusuf was suspended over alleged gross misconduct.

    Other allegations against him include: fraud and severe infractions, public procurement infringement, unlawful staff posting, willful defiance of Council directives, violation of Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy and superfluous arrogation of projects.

    Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole had on July 6, last year suspended Yusuf over similar allegations.

     

    Students’ union bodies plan protest

     

    The National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) said it has mobilised and concluded plans to storm the NHIS office with other students unions tomorrow.

    The mission is to sack Yusuf from office.

    The students’ union body said, aside the fraud and sundry allegations against Yusuf, “Tertiary Institution Students’ Health Insurance Program (TSHIP) under the NHIS supervision has become another fraud and scam”.

    In a press statement by its spokesman Ibrahim Olawale Seriki, NUNS said: “While this is considered as bad precedence for our generation and those unborn, NUNS, National Association of University (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has jointly resolved to launch an action against this shameful act targeted at rubbishing the integrity of dear country and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari particularly as we approach electioneering year.

    “The NHIS ES earlier suspension by Health minister in July 2017 was over N919 million fraud allegations which he refused to honor until his controversial reinstatement in February 2018 by the Presidency.

    “The TSHIP under the supervision of NHIS has become another fraud and scam, it is best described as gambling on students’ lives, students are forced to pay the sum of N3, 500 each per session for TSHIP a charge increased recently from N2, 500 with approval of NHIS despite it woeful effectiveness and serial complains of poor and inconsistent fulfilment of statutory roles of HMOs by Students across the country.

    “Students have not benefited from this programme as expected, students die on daily basis following poor implementation of TSHIP, it is assumed to be a conspiracy between NHIS management and HMOs to defraud the students as well endanger their lives as we bank on imaginary health insurance policy (policy which does not work in real sense).

    “A student of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo State, is medically stranded with no aid from TSHIP; the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, lost a student to reckless TSHIP; the Federal University of Technology Minna lost a student to the same failed insurance program; a 100 level student of the University of Abuja died recently over ineffective TSHIP, just as a student of same university (a victim/survival of an accident with permanent disability) is yet to get compensation and one is still financially stranded in National Hospital as we speak among many others too numerous to mention.

    “The incessant refusal of executive secretary to suspension to pave the way for a thorough investigation is a pointer to guilt and culpability stand of the ES even before the investigation, hence, the students’ move to act in defence of the constituted authority and restoration of sanity in our system towards complimenting the effort of Federal Governments’ fight against corruption and most ultimately to end the failed TSHIP and continuous murder of students by HMOs under the NHIS supervision with ineffective and fraudulent TSHIP programme.

    “Nigerian students, lovers of justice, admirer of rule of law, crusaders of due process and life savers are hereby invited to join us as we move to eject the adamant suspected Fraudulent ES who is refusing to stay aside from office for investigation on tomorrow (Thursday, October 25,)

    “Our prayers are the immediate vacation of the ES from office until investigation is concluded and immediate probe of TSHIP Programme and discontinuation of the program by NHIS.”

    But the Federal Government reinstated him on February 6, 2018, after an administrative panel found him not guilty of the allegations of abuse of office and maladministration.

    Yusuf officially resumed work on February 8, 2018, after he was given the clean bill.

    A protest staged by members of the NHIS chapter of ASCSN to prevent Yusuf from gaining access into the office, was countered by their NCSU colleagues.

    The situation that almost degenerated into security breach was however contained with the intervention of a combined team of police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

    But the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu yesterday said the Presidency has stepped into the NHIS crisis.

    Shehu, who featured on Channels Television Sunrise Daily in Abuja, said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole, had intervened in the NHIS crisis with a view to finding lasting solutions.

    The SSA noted with regret that the NHIS crisis had been ethnicised and politicised by some interest groups within and outside the agency.

    Shehu said: “Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said ‘no they haven’t’.

    “Again, we all have to do the right thing all of the times. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do – (the crisis) is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised.

    “Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it. I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution, which had blocked access to public resources.

    “Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, it is money taken from your salary, from my salary.

    “If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill. Then, you should ask the question, in 13 years of the NHIS, how many Nigerians have received the treatments.

    “Yet, you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, `look, this can’t go on’ and with strong support from this administration, the N5 billion has been reduced to N1.3 billion.

     

     

    “And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So, there is a lot of work to do.’’

    The presidential aide, who stated that he was not in the position to challenge the allegations of wrong doings levelled against the executive secretary in some quarters, however, maintained that the two chambers of the National Assembly had previously cleared the executive secretary of the allegations against him.

    He also dismissed the accusation of “double standard” by the Buhari administration while dealing with cases of corruption being levelled against public servants or political office holders in the country.

    According to him, it was wrong to compare the case of former SGF Babachir Lawal to that of the NHIS scribe.

    “Well, there is no double standard there either than to say that the pictures that the government is looking at, many Nigerians, perhaps, may not be seeing those pictures,’’ he added.

     

    Fading faith in scheme

     

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday called on the government to strengthen Nigerians’ faith in the scheme.

    The Association, which described the health insurance scheme as a vital tool in the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage, harped on the urgent need to improve enrolment to the scheme, which is currently put at less than five per cent coverage.

    Oyo NMA Chairman, Dr. Akin Sodipo made the call yesterday at the NMA House at a press conference to kick-off the weeklong annual event to celebrate medical and dental practitioners in the country.

    The event christened: “2018 Physicians Week” which is to run from October 21 to 27, is said to be “in recognition of the sacrifices and dedication to the wellness of their immediate communities and the Nation at large, and to also look at those factors that militate against the provision of effective healthcare by the Nigerian doctors.”

    The celebration themed: “Universal Health Coverage- Leaving no one behind”, according to Sodipo is chosen after analysing key issues affecting “our health care delivery system vis-à-vis quality of lives of Nigerians and in line with the aims and objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015.”

    He said the UHC will enable everybody and all communities access the needed promotional, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.

    Sodipo said: “The healthcare delivery in our country is still largely out of pocket which constitutes about 70 per cent of our health expenditure as opposed to the recommended 30-40, abysmal low coverage by NHIS which is still less than five percent, poor budgetary allocation to health (less than five per cent of the total budget), inequitable distribution of human resources for health with inverse distribution of health personnel compared with the population with over 70 per cent of health personnel serving 30 percent urban dwellers as against less than 20 per cent health personnel serving over 70 per cent population living in our rural areas, generally low doctor/health workers to patients ratio, low per capita income, poor access to healthcare facilities among others.

    “In recognition of the importance of health financing in the achievement of UHC, a fundamental strategy to address our abysmal poor health indices, there is urgent need to improve enrolment in our National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from the current less than five per cent coverage. Nigerians are increasingly losing hope in NHIS as a tool, which is vital to the attainment of UHC.

    “To achieve UHC, it is, therefore, important to strengthen the NHIS and explore other health care financing system like community-based health insurance which some states have keyed into. This scheme will significantly cater for the informal sector especially the rural dwellers.

    “There is also the need to ensure that our leaders muster enough political will for quality and effective healthcare services in Nigeria.”

    The NMA also called on the Federal Government to immediately constitute the council of the MDCAN and its sister profession, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN).

     

    House investigate suspension of NHIS boss

    The crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) got the attention of the House of Representatives yesterday. The Green Chamber said it will investigate the suspension of the scheme’s Executive Secretary, Prof Usman Yusuf.

    The House passed a resolution to raise an ad-hoc committee to investigate the issue.

    The House resolution was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion of urgent importance by a member, Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) on the floor yesterday.

    Moving the motion, the lawmaker said the latest NHIS crisis came barely five months after the executive secretary was ‘controversially’ reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari from an indefinite suspension slammed on him by his supervising  Health ministry on July 2017 over similar alleged gross misconduct, corruption and nepotism.

    Douye noted that the suspended executive secretary flouted the authority of the NHIS Council by violently breaking into the Abuja Head Office of the Scheme on Monday, “aided by almost 50 heavily armed policemen and overpowered the security men.

    “The staff at the premises, including women were indiscriminately teargassed and manhandled.”

    “This very critical sector, on which the hope of our universal health delivery is  hinged, far from being a theatre of health it has degenerated into a theatre of war, with so many scandals in recent times.”

    Duoye’s colleagues condemned the scandals while contributing to the debate, with a member, Tobi Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), lamenting: “this government claims to come and fight corruption but it is so sad that this impunity is happening”.

    Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau), however, cautioned his colleagues not to be judgmental since the motion is investigative.

    According to him, “it does not need debating as it is investigative in nature.”

    When Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed by the majority.

     

    Council threatens to resign if suspension is reversed

    •Leave us out of your problems, HMOs tells ES

    The crisis took a fresh dimension yesterday as members of the Governing Council threatened to vacate office should the presidency reversed Yusuf’s suspension and investigation of infractions against him.

    This is as the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) urged the executive secretary to leave it out of its problems with the scheme governing council.

    Announcing the suspension last Thursday, the council said the executive secretary would not be allowed into the office premises for the administrative panel investigating the allegations to do a thorough job.

    But, the executive secretary insisted that the council lacked the power to suspend him, hence their directive to him to proceed on indefinite strike would not stand. Challenging the council, Yusuf argued that only the President who appointed him has the power to remove him from office.

    Speaking to The Nation on the lingering issue, a source within the scheme doubted the possibility of council members working with the NHIS boss given their experience with him.

    The source who pleaded for anonymity noted that Yusuf was in the habit of flouting the directives of the council.

    Responding to the question on what would be the council’s next line of action should the Presidency quash the suspension and investigation instituted against the NHIS boss, the source said: “You see, one thing is clear, since this council was inaugurated till date, nothing has happened at the scheme. No instruction given to the ES was carried out. So, if he should be reinstated by the Federal Government, it is clear that the council and the ES can’t work together. So, we have to review that relationship.”

    When pressed further to know if the council members would resign, the board member said: “We will walk away. We cannot work with him anymore. The council will work away. We can’t work together.

    “The issue is this, in the course of this discussion; we need to clarify who has the superior power. The council formulates policies, serves as checks and balances to the management of all agencies.

    “So, if there are infractions, it is the prerogative of the council to question those infractions and investigate those infractions and whoever is been investigated shouldn’t be seating on the council as at that time. So the law is very clear about that.”

    Reacting to some of the allegations against the Council by Deji Adeyanju, a social crusader, Lekan Ewenla, representative of the HMOs on the Board of the NHIS governing council said there was no correlation between the HMOs and the infractions raised against the executive secretary.