NHIA Expands Free Healthcare Access For Vulnerable Nigerians

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said it has rolled out plans to expand access to quality healthcare for vulnerable Nigerians through targeted financing programmes.

The NHIA stressed that the country’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) extends beyond increasing health insurance enrolment to building an equitable system that leaves no one behind.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NHIA explained that its interventions, anchored on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and other specialised programmes, are designed to improve access to essential health services while protecting poor and vulnerable households from catastrophic healthcare costs.

It stated that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) remains one of the key pillars of the Federal Government’s strategy to strengthen primary healthcare and provide essential health services to vulnerable populations across the country.

“Nigeria’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is not just about expanding health insurance coverage but building a system that protects the vulnerable, advances equity, and ensures no one is left behind,” the statement read.

It added, “Through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) continues to broaden access to essential care for vulnerable Nigerians across all 36 states and the FCT.”

The authority further noted that beyond the BHCPF, it is implementing additional financing initiatives to support the ongoing Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative aimed at improving healthcare delivery nationwide.

“Beyond BHCPF, NHIA is deepening its equity mandate through targeted financing programmes aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). These interventions are designed to reach those most at risk of poor health outcomes and financial hardship,” it said.

The NHIA further listed the interventions to include, Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, which provides the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services to vulnerable populations comprising the poor, elderly, women at risk, children under five, internally displaced persons, and other underserved groups.

Others are NHIA Financing Access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC), which supports vulnerable women at risk of maternal complications, as well as sick newborns needing urgent care., The Fistula-Free Programme (FFP), which provides support for women living with obstetric fistula, and Global Fund financial access programmes, which extend coverage to key populations, including people living with HIV and those affected by Tuberculosis.

The NHIA reiterated its commitment to expanding coverage, protecting households, and improving access to quality care for those who need it most.