The federal government has introduced the operational guidelines for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), a significant step following the enactment of the new NHIA Act in 2022.
During the launch of the guidelines in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised the transformative impact of the NHIA Act and its accompanying operational guidelines on the advancement of health insurance in Nigeria.
Prof. Pate highlighted the pivotal role these guidelines would play in ensuring greater coverage of Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population. The objective is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible across the country.
He urged state governments to allocate additional resources to fortify their insurance programmes, particularly by enrolling formal sector participants and contributing the required 25% counterpart funding for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Prof. Mohammed Sambo, the Director General of the NHIA, emphasised that the guidelines offer clarity on the roles, responsibilities, and commitments of all stakeholders, aligning with the principles of equity, quality, and sustainability.
Alexander Chimbaru, the Deputy Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, highlighted that the guidelines effectively address the challenges that previously existed within the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
