The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NHIS

  • NHIS to mark Centenary with ‘free’ treatment

    The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has earmarked funds to treat end-stage diseases in its treatment cache. This, it said, is part of activities to mark the nation’s centenary anniversary.

    According to the CEO/Executive Secretary, Dr Femi Thomas, the diseases to be treated include cancer, kidney and heart related diseases/conditions and others that affect the bone.

    Speaking to reporters during the accreditation of facilities in preparation for the massive enrolment of Nigerians on the scheme, scheduled for later this year, Dr. Thomas said the scheme would fund 100 open heart surgeries and major cardiac interventions; 100 major cancer cases; 100 major orthopaedic cases and 100 major renal cases across the country.

    “This provides a window of opportunities for those who are enrolled in the health insurance scheme to benefit from the processes. It will also provide interventions for other minor diseases. As part of the activities marking the nation’s centenary, the authorities of the National Health Insurance Scheme have approved some funds to take care of some tertiary and super-tertiary diseases before the end of the year,” he said, adding: “This is in the spirit of celebrating the nation’s centenary, an opportunity for the scheme to subsidise the cost of care for those in the vulnerable group who, otherwise, would not have been able to afford such medical interventions.”

    Dr Thomas said there is hope that the NHIS would develop some programmes that would cover more people as time goes on. “In order to ensure a successful universal coverage, President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the NHIS to enroll 30 per cent Nigerians by 2015. However, we have decided in-house to go beyond this, as we are working towards having 70.8 million Nigerians enrolled in the scheme, translating into 40 per cent of the entire population.”

    Thomas said enrollees are still few, compared to the total population, and with a little less than 10 per cent so far enrolled in the scheme, hence the need to make it compulsory if everybody must be covered.

    “The health insurance coverage is currently less than 10 per cent of the entire population, but in order to make Nigerians enjoy universal health coverage, health insurance would become compulsory as provided for in the Health Bill. He said about N1.3 trillion would be required to fund the universal health coverage,” he said.

    Thomas said measures had been put in place to enroll 24 million primary school pupils nationwide into the scheme. He said if the agency was able to cover all pregnant women and children less than five years by 2015, it would have about 70.8 million Nigerians under its coverage.

    The executive secretary urged wealthy individuals to pay for vulnerable people, adding that, “it is like adopting them for health insurance coverage.’’

    Concerning the Health Bill waiting for the president’s assent, Thomas said once the President assents to it, one per cent consolidated fund would be made available to the NHIS to work with.

  • NHIS kicks off enrollment of pupils

    The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will soon commence enrollment of pupils in public primary schools across the country, its Executive Secretary, Dr Femi Thomas, has stated.

    He said the enrolment of public primary school pupils in 2014 as well as pregnant women and children under the age of five in 2015 will not only make the scheme attain the presidential mandate of 30per cent coverage but also surpass it.

    Thomas, who said the agency is currently undergoing restructuring, informed that new departments have also been created to boost its efficiency.

    A statement by the NHIS head, Media and Public Relations Division, Ayo Osinlu, stated that Thomas made these known during a recent advocacy visit to the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, at the Government House, Akure.

    Thomas said that the recent passage of the National Health Bill by the Senate and the processes of amending the act establishing the NHIS currently going on in the House of Representatives, will increase the capacity of the organisation to be more effective and responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians.

  • ‘NHIS’ll improve health care delivery’

    ‘NHIS’ll improve health care delivery’

    The Ekiti State government unfolded a plan yesterday to fast-track the implementation of its health programmes, including free health care services to infants and expectant mothers.

    It said it would use the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to fulfill its health obligations to residents.

    Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu spoke in her office in Ado-Ekiti while hosting a delegation led by NHIS Executive Secretary Dr. Femi Thomas.

    She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration was determined to give every resident access to quality health care services, adding: “To provide free health care for every class of people in the society, the government has taken its free health care missions to every corner of the state. The free medical check-up and treatment for civil servants is part of the strategies to ensure that every citizen enjoys good health and contributes to the state’s growth.”

    Prof. Adelabu said the government has found a veritable platform in the NHIS to fast-track its health care agenda.

    Thomas, a former commissioner for Health in the state, hailed the administration’s accomplishments in the health sector, particularly on maternal and child health.

    He said the administration’s free health had reduced maternal and child mortality and increased life expectancy.

    Thomas said he was in the state to discuss how the state could key into NHIS programmes and the Universal Health Scheme.

    He urged the government to incorporate the formal sector, such as labour unions, in the scheme.

    Thomas requested for a piece of land in a good location in Ado-Ekiti, where the organisation could build its office.

     

  • Abuja Area councils urged to support NHIS

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration has urged all departments, secretariats, agencies and the area councils to support the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHSS), geared towards addressing the health needs of staff for continuity.

    The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya  made the  plea at an interactive meeting of FHSS team and managemnt staff of all FCTA hospitals in Bwari Area Council.

    He said the scheme is one of the dividends of democracy and the administration is determined to have a healthy workforce.

    His words: “The FCT health Services Scheme as an organ of the Federal Capital Territory Administration with the aim of addressing the health needs, especially out of pocket expenditure of staff (and their dependants) of secretariats, departments, agencies and thz six area councils has come to stay and all efforts geared towards its sustainability should be encouraged”

    “Our patients, especially FHSS enrollees who access services in our hospitals are our primary concerns and we must ensure that thei hopes and confidence in the scheme will not be dashed”

    He lauded  the FHSS team for restructuring activities that are on-going to reposition the scheme for effective service delivery.

    In his welcome address, programm manager, FCT Health Services Scheme, Dr. Evans Onyekele, said, now the scheme has over 65, 000 enrollees “and we are not  raising our shoulders yet as more work still needed  to be done”

    He said, the scheme is bedevilled with many challenges ranging from “inadequate staff to meet the tasks and late payment of capitations” adding that the meeting is to look into and address the challenges that mitigate against adequate service delivery to the enrollees.

    He said also that the scheme want to revalidate all the enrollees to detect those who are no longer in service and remove their names from the scheme and its also reaccrediting the private health care facilities in order to remove those that fall short of standard or no longer in existence.

    The FCT Health Services Scheme was established by the 12th FCT Executive Committee Resolution on April 4, 2006 and was officially flagged off in August 21, 2009.

  • NHIS will raise coverage levels by 2015-Thomas

    The newly appointed Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Martins Olufemi Thomas, has promised to take the scheme to another level.

    Besides, the NHIS boss also assured of his determination to raise healthcare coverage levels under the scheme in the country.

    The 49-year-old Ekiti State-born medical doctor is the fifth substantive Chief Executive of NHIS in the 16-year history of the scheme.

    Thomas spoke at the official handing over ceremony at the NHIS office, Abuja. He took over from Dr. Abdulraman Sambo who had occupied the post on an acting capacity for about two years.

    The former Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State explained that extension of coverage to the ordinary Nigerian will remain a strong performance indicator for him.

    Having acknowledged the imperative of attaining the presidential mandate of 30percent coverage of Nigerians by 2015, Thomas called on all stakeholders to work hard towards achieving this objective, maintaining that the goal was achievable within the timeline.

    He stressed that the scheme is meant to impact on the life of every Nigerian, including the lowly placed in the society.

    Towards this end, he expressed his willingness to work with the staff and management of the scheme as well as all other stakeholders, while promising that the welfare of staff would be top priority under his watch.

    The cardio-thoracic surgeon called for the support of the media in the efforts to bring health insurance to every Nigerian, arguing that the concept remained the most potent approach to achieving universal healthcare coverage.

    “Health insurance as the most credible means of facilitating a viable financing of the system has come to stay and remains the best way to achieve affordable healthcare delivery,” Thoms declared.

    Promising to pay particular attention to financial regulations and probity, he stressed the essence of ensuring that laid down procedures are adhered to at all times, noting that an abuse of due process will not be acceptable under his leadership.

  • FG to provide healthcare loans

    FG to provide healthcare loans

    If the arrangement being put in place by the Federal Government scales through, money would no longer be a problem in accessing health care facility in the country.

    Federal Government is mulling the idea of making loans available to Nigerians to enable them access the health services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) program.

    The report is expected to be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for ratification, before its implementation.

    The Acting Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the report on Hospital Capital Improvement Project.

    The committee among other things was asked to put in place modalities for the establishment of hospital capital improvement fund.

    Besides, the committee according to Sambo, also looked at the feasibility and practicable interest rate.

    He said, “Critically examine when the program is feasible and practicable at an interest rate that is fair to all the health seekers, the federal government was looking into investing and injecting funds into the scheme to meet the needs of Nigerians on universal healthcare coverage.”

    Sambo revealed that government was committed to the provision of low-interest loans to assist Nigerians access health at an affordable rate.

    He pointed out that government was interested in finding alternative ways to fund the NHIS so as to make access to healthcare inclusive.

     

     

     

  • NHIS to cover all Nigerians – Tambuwal

    NHIS to cover all Nigerians – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, pledged on Friday that the National Health Insurance Scheme would be extended to cover all Nigerians.

    Tambuwal made the pledge at the opening of the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and unveiling of the Face of Healthy Living in Nigeria in Sokoto.

    “A situation where only a paltry six per cent of Nigeria’s population is covered by the NHIS should no longer stand.

    “Accordingly, the National Assembly would seek ways and means of extending the NHIS coverage to reach, especially the vulnerable groups within the society, in the current amendment process of the NHIS act.

    “We call upon the NMA for partnership so we can be availed of the benefits of professional expertise.

    “This call for informed professional input also stands for all other health-related legislations receiving attention at the National Assembly,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Tambuwal as saying at the forum.

    He commended the leadership of the association for its “unparalleled commitment to nation building and advancement of the health of Nigerians.”

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, lauded the association for keeping faith with the “Asaba declaration” of near zero tolerance to the issue of strikes in the health sector.

    “This was amply demonstrated when the NMA mobilised doctors and all other health workers who did not join the JOHESU strike to maintain services,” he noted.

     

  • NHIS seeks more funds for universal health coverage

    The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr AbdulRahman Sambo, said inadequate funding was needed to attain universal health coverage in the country.

    Sambo told journalists in Abuja that there was the need for special funds to take care of the health needs of vulnerable persons in the country.

    He said the scheme had developed key elements to achieving universal health insurance through compulsion for those who could afford health care and subsidy payment.

    The subsidy payment, he explained, would ensure that the indigent were taken care of from some of the contributions of those who could afford to pay.

    “The major challenge that we have is our law, which makes participation under the health insurance scheme optional, voluntary; number two, the non-logging in of the programmes of the NHIS by states and local governments; these are the two major that has been impeding the NHIS in attaining universal coverage.

    “One other major thing that has been clearly defined by us and other stakeholders is the absence of a fund that will provide contribution or pay for the contribution of the vulnerable, the poor, the indigent and those with some forms of disease vulnerability.

    “We have identified two key elements that are required to ensure universal coverage, and those elements are compulsion – compelling individuals who have the means to pay for their contribution to do so.

    “The second one is the touchy issue of subsidy, we believe that there have to be some subsidy payments for those who can’t afford to make their own contributions.”

    Sambo said the NHIS currently covers only 7.5 million Nigerians, adding that the law establishing the scheme was being amended by the National Assembly.

    He said it was also important for Nigerians to change their mentality on the notion of health insurance as the advantages out-weighed the disadvantages.

    “We currently have covered about 7.5 million persons; the NHIS law is going through amendment in the National Assembly and the amendment will strictly look at making it compulsory and identifying some form of financing mechanism or options to give cover to the poor and the indigent in the society.

    “We are going round the country sensitising people, paying advocacy to states governors and local government chairmen, to political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, across the country.

    “We are partnering with the media because without the media we cannot be able to reach out to Nigerians; we need to educate Nigerians on the value of health insurance which is a cultural shift.

    “Culturally, Nigerians wouldn’t want to pay in advance for their healthcare; this notion that doing so may connote one’s wish of being ill; this is common in quite a number of cultures across the country.

    “People say it is not my portion to get sick. Some think health insurance or insurance in general is against their faith; those are some of the little challenges that we are facing.’’

    The acting executive secretary said NHIS was also partnering with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to reposition the scheme, adding that continuous sensitisation would go a long way to improve the health status of Nigerians.

    “The scheme is being redesigned to ensure that it is well structured to attain universal coverage.

    “We are consulting with the International Finance Corporation (IFC); we are actually partnering with the IFC.

    “We have engaged the services of a company to look at the NHIS; examine the scheme in four broad areas, policy, regulation and legal framework; that is one area.

    “The second area is the business processes of the NHIS; the third area is finance and funding requirement needed to attain universal coverage, and fourthly the IT platform that will be required to move the process forward.

    “Sensitisation and advocacy of ordinary Nigerians is a big issue, and that is why we are going round sensitising our partners to assist the scheme in reaching out to Nigerians; let them know the value of health insurance as it’s being done in other countries of the world.

    “We have seen countries that are less endowed than Nigeria being able to attain universal coverage within a very short time, largely arising from the political will and commitment of government at various levels in those particular countries to ensure that their citizens are covered.

    “This is what we hope to see happen in this country; it’s difficult but it is not impossible. With the support of each person, and those of all stakeholders, we are certain that universal health coverage for Nigerians will be a reality.’’

     

  • NHIS ready for 2015

    TO achieve the mandate of universal health coverage by 2015, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has rolled out programmes to address the various segments of the society.

    This was made known by the Deputy General Manager (DGM)/Head, Media and Public Relations Division of the scheme, Mrs. Hannatu Ardo, during the Kaduna International Trade Fair.

    The DGM, who was represented the Executive Secretary of the NHIS during the fair, said the organisation had designed programmes that will be convenient for the various segment of the society.

    According to her, programmes such as the Voluntary Contributor’s Social Health Insurance (VCSHI), the Community Based Social Health Insurance (CBSHI), Tertiary institution Social Health Insurance (TISHIP), the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance (FSSHI), among others, are designed to address the financial and social inequality in the country.

    She called on Nigerians to avail themselves of any of these products that has been specially crafted to meet their health needs.

    Mr Eliagu Okongu, an enrolee of the scheme, asked the NHIS to intensify its effort in monitoring health care providers as some of them are ripping off enrollees under the pretext that some of the ailments they complain about are not covered by the Scheme.

    The launch of NHIS in 2005, it was mandated that, 10 years later, every Nigerian should have health insurance as a positive development in health insurance. The target coincides with the Uation Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target to reduce poverty by half.

     

  • NHIS engages Accenture for scheme’s growth

    NHIS engages Accenture for scheme’s growth

    • Asks stakeholders to complement efforts

    The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank, has engaged Accenture to develop an effective and industry-wide platform for sustainable growth as well as financing plan for scaling up the scheme’s coverage.

    Acting Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Abdulrahaman Sambo, disclosed this during a consultative forum with stakeholders in Abuja.

    According to Sambo, the objective of the consultancy services from Accenture is to enable the repositioning of the scheme towards effective implementation of its programmes to the benefit of the citizens, promising to adhere strictly to the findings and recommendations of the consultants.

    Sambo however charged stakeholders of the scheme to complement efforts of the NHIS towards the attainment of universal coverage through prompt service delivery.

    The NHIS boss called on healthcare facilities providers to brace up to the task ahead and ensure that the scheme’s mandate of universal coverage is achieved.

    In his presentation, the Programme Manager, Accenture, Mr. Martin Eigbike said the group’s task as providing services in four key areas, he identified as; reviewing the regulatory policy frame work, designing an IT system, reviewing current business practice and proposing new ones to ensure sustainability. It also include conducting a review of long term funding requirements and identifying other strategies and mechanisms for securing potential sources.

    He further explained that this assessment is aimed at identifying existing constraints to achieving universal health coverage and specific opportunities to improve the effectiveness of NHIS.

    “The assessment will also establish the foundational principle that will guide the design of a blue-print for scaling up the capabilities of the scheme.

    “Review of the legal frame work to make the scheme mandatory would go a long a way in accelerating the attainment of universal coverage,” he said.

    Meanwhile stakeholders, unanimously agreed to work with the NHIS, but stressed that existing lacuna in the system be addressed to enhance attainment of this lofty goal.