President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to subject a service-wide round to all Ministries, Additional-Ministerial Departments, and Businesses (MDAs) on the implementation of obligatory medical health insurance in keeping with the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Act, 2022.
Nevertheless, Tinubu known as for additional, nearer and constructive engagement with the Non-public Sector on the Act to make sure that companies weren’t unduly constrained.
In accordance with an announcement by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s directive covers 5 key areas.
“First, all MDAs should enrol their workers within the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA) medical health insurance plan. The place desired, MDAs might take up supplementary non-public insurance coverage protection in accordance with the NHIA Act.
“All entities taking part in public procurement should current a sound NHIA-issued Well being Insurance coverage Certificates as a part of their eligibility documentation.
“This certificates confirms compliance with the obligatory medical health insurance requirement and serves as a situation precedent for persevering with any procurement-related engagement,” the directive said.
Onanuga mentioned the directive additionally compels all MDAs to require candidates to current legitimate NHIA Well being Insurance coverage Certificates as a precondition for issuing and renewing licenses, permits, and different official approvals.
In accordance with the directive, the NHIA will set up a digital platform to allow simple verification of Well being Insurance coverage Certificates, making certain transparency and accessibility.
“Lastly, the directive compels all MDAs to work with the NHIA to develop inner procedures to confirm the authenticity of the submitted Well being Insurance coverage Certificates and guarantee constant compliance monitoring,” Onanuga mentioned.
He harassed that the presidential directive goals to increase well being protection, safeguard staff, cut back out-of-pocket well being expenditures and promote accountability in private and non-private sector engagements.
In accordance with the assertion, the NHIA Act, 2022, stipulates obligatory medical health insurance for Nigerians and mandates NHIA to make sure well being protection for all individuals in Nigeria and undertake needed measures to attain its aims.
The President famous that three years after the Act was enacted, the nationwide medical health insurance protection stays alarmingly low regardless of current progress within the well being sector.
