leading global health organization, Options, has partnered with the federal government, states and other partners to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for Nigerians. The Regional Director, Options Consultancy Services, Dr Ufuoma Festus Omo-Obi, stated this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the 30th anniversary of the organization in Nigeria. He said data from the World…
NHIS undergoing reforms to fast track attainment of universal health coverage
There are indications that the ongoing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the non-passage of the amended National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act have further slowed down the uptake of health insurance packages and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
In fact, The Guardian investigation revealed that more than 170 million Nigerians are still paying out-of-pocket to access medical services and out-of-pocket payments can make households and individuals incur catastrophic health expenditure and this can exacerbate the level of poverty. x
Critics say the NHIS has remained nonfunctional and the coverage rate has dropped from over 10 per cent (5.6 million Nigerians) ten years ago to just barely 1.72 per cent (one million Nigerians) today.