Pate Unveils NHIA Operational Guidelines, Vows to Address Low Health Insurance Coverage

Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate

Pate Unveils NHIA Operational Guidelines, Vows to Address Low Health Insurance Coverage

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, has lamented the fact that less than 10 percent of Nigerians are covered with health insurance in Nigeria.

The Minister noted that a situation whereby over 90 percent of Nigerians have no health insurance
cover and rely on out-of-pocket monies to pay hospital bills is not sustainable.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Operational Guidelines, 2023 in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector cannot succeed without adequate health insurance coverage.

The Minister said that since the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) started operations in 2004, some progress has been made and over 9 percent of Nigerians have health insurance coverage.

He however added that the progress is not good enough since over 90 percent of the population is still left out.

“High out-of-pocket payment for health care services is not good enough and it is not sustainable. Only 9 percent of Nigerians have insurance cover. 90 percent doesn’t.

“Ill-health is pushing many Nigerians into poverty. We must therefore change the trajectory of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“Many people have wondered why the President added social welfare to the Ministry of Health. The answer is health insurance. Health insurance is the key to the Renewed Hope Agenda and it is the reason the President added social welfare to the Ministry. This is because the President is aware that we need social protection for our people,” he said.

Speaking to journalists after he officially unveiled the guidelines, Dr Pate noted that the availability of quality and affordable healthcare is key to the success of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and that the guidelines will help the administration to achieve it.

On the role primary health care services will play in the overall plan of the government, he added that 8,000 primary health care centres across the country will receive some special funds to enable them bring quality healthcare services to Nigerians at the grassroots.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, reiterated that quality health care system is at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr Anas-Kolo who chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, said the Federal Government is redesigning the healthcare service delivery scheme in the country.

She also mentioned medical industrialisation, human resources, service delivery at primary level, health information management, medical research and healthcare financing as the key areas the administration will focus on in its reforms.

She commended the NHIA Director-General, Professor Nasir Sambo, on the excellent work they did on the operational guidelines.

Given the vote of thanks at the end of the ceremony, a World Health Organisation (WHO) chieftain who chaired the Technical Working Group responsible for drafting the Guidelines, Dr Francis Ukwuije, tasked the Minister to work tirelessly towards the implementation of the document.

“We rely on you, the Nigerian children and women are looking up to you for the implementation of the guidelines to the letter.

“You are truly the magnet when it comes to drawing donor funds and resources needed to get things done and we are really hoping on you sir.

“We have the highest out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa. It has moved 60 percent of the country into poverty.

“We also expect today’s event and the faithful implementation of the Guidelines to unlock the Vulnerable Group Fund in the 2024 Budget,” he noted.