NHIS seeks more funds to attain universal health coverage

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance
Scheme, Dr. AbdulRahman Sambo, has said adequate funding was needed to
attain universal health coverage in the country.
Sambo told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday 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.
He said: “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 majors things that have 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 has 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-weigh the
disadvantages.
He added: “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 health care.
“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 the NHIS was also partnering with
the International Finance Corporation to reposition the scheme, adding
that continuous sensitisation would go a long way to improve the
health status of Nigerians.
He said: “The scheme is being redesigned to ensure that it is well
structured to attain universal coverage.
“We are consulting with the International Finance Corporation.
“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.”