The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to 22.03 million, reflecting significant progress in the country’s quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Director General of the NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed this during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors in Lagos, attributing the 35 per cent year-on-year increase in enrolment to the implementation of Nigeria’s mandatory health insurance policy and growing public confidence in the scheme.
According to Ohiri, the NHIA has moved beyond policy development to delivering practical reforms that are expanding access to affordable healthcare across the country in line with the Federal Government’s health sector transformation agenda.
He said the country’s legal and policy frameworks for health insurance are already in place, stressing that the priority is now consistent implementation that translates government commitments into improved healthcare access for Nigerians.
Ohiri noted that collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, healthcare providers, Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), employers and development partners has played a critical role in driving the expansion of health insurance coverage.
He explained that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the National Health Insurance Authority has strengthened regulation, improved consumer protection and enhanced compliance through a more robust legal framework.
The NHIA, he said, achieved the recent growth in enrolment by working closely with State Social Health Insurance Agencies, federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, organised labour and private sector employers.
The agency has also intensified efforts to protect enrollees, recording an 87 per cent resolution rate for complaints. According to Ohiri, the NHIA resolved 3,878 complaints, concluded 95 per cent of cases within stipulated timelines, refunded more than N14.2 million to affected beneficiaries and sanctioned healthcare facilities that failed to meet required standards.
To improve service delivery, the authority has introduced new standards requiring healthcare providers to begin treatment for emergency cases involving insured patients within one hour of presentation.
Ohiri further revealed that the NHIA has increased financial support to healthcare providers, approving a 93 per cent increase in capitation payments and a 378 per cent increase in fee for service reimbursements to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure providers receive adequate compensation for specialised treatments.
He added that 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality improvement framework as part of efforts to improve service standards and healthcare infrastructure nationwide.
The NHIA has also expanded programmes targeted at vulnerable populations, including maternal and newborn healthcare services that have benefited more than 48,500 pregnant women. The agency is equally strengthening support for pensioners, retirees and other vulnerable groups through dedicated funding mechanisms.
Ohiri said the reforms are aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the health sector reform programme being coordinated by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, expressing confidence that the ongoing initiatives will accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards universal health coverage.
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