Health Insurance Act will guarantee quality healthcare delivery—DG

The Director-General of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Mohammed Sambo, says the current National Health Insurance Authority Act (amended), will guarantee all Nigerians quality and affordable healthcare services.

He said this on Thursday at a sensitisation meeting/enrollee forum organised by NHIA Enugu State office to increase awareness of enrollees’ rights and privileges.

Sambo, who spoke through, Mrs Ikwuagwu Ebere, Assistant Manager Enugu zonal office, who also represented, the zonal coordinator, Mrs Ahunna Ocho, said NHIA would contribute to the meeting health components SDGs.

He said the 2004 Act which established the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) did not make enrollment compulsory hence the enrollment was slow.

“However, the new Act signed on May 19 has now made enrollment compulsory and also enlarged the scope of coverage to states, local governments and the private sector.

“This has increased enrollment and we are now sure of meeting one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, ” he said.

Also speaking, the Enugu State Coordinator of NHIA, Mrs Stella Njoku, said the programme was designed to educate enrollees on their rights and privileges as outlined in the 2022 Act.

She said that most of the enrollees did not know their rights and privileges under the Act hence it became necessary to enlighten them.

According to her some of these rights include: “Right to select a healthcare faculty of choice as long as such healthcare facility is accredited by NHIA.

“They also have the right to access healthcare at any NHIA facility in case of emergency; right to complain to NHIA or HMOs about any act of negligence.

“There is also the right to be served with dignity and efficiency; seek redress when rights are breached; right to add or remove dependents, subject to approval by NHIA.”

The coordinator said that following the new Act, the Enugu state office intensified awareness campaign through creation of various sensitisation modules.

“I am happy to say that enrollment has increased including the private sector participation,” she said.

The state coordinator further said the programme would change the misconception people have about the scheme.

“We also expect to get feedbacks and the way forward,” Njoku said.

The Executive Secretary, Enugu State Social Health Insurance Agency, Dr Edith Okolo said the state was happy to be part of the NHIA.

Okolo said the scheme was built on achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), adding that, Enugu was well ahead of the national.

She commended the organisers of the event, saying that, “it will go a long way in getting more people to enroll in the scheme.”

Mr Sam Udekwe, Chairman, Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, said the council would partner the state coordinating office to enroll its members.

He said that NHIA enrollment would form part of the welfare programme of the council.