NHIS Covers Only 4.2% of Nigerians 16 Years After Scheme’s Commencement- Report

Sixteen years after the launch of the National Health Insurance Scheme, only 4.2 percent of Nigerians have been registered

The Scheme was established as a corporate body in 1999, by virtue of Decree 35 of 1999 (now cited as NHIS Act Cap 42 LFN, 2004), but became operational in 2005.

Established by the Federal Government, the scheme was to provide affordable/efficient healthcare services to participants through pooled contributions.

A recently published NHIS strategic plan sighted by THE WHISTLER, showed that only about 4.2 percent of Nigerians are covered under the social health insurance.

It states, “Currently, only about 4.2 percent of Nigerians are covered under the social health insurance.

“However, by virtue of expansion of state-supported health insurance schemes, this rate is projected to reach 70 percent by 2030.”

As contained in the plan, coverage growth of different population groups differs.

The Scheme expects a 70 percent growth in the vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups’ coverage, and 59 percent coverage of the non-vulnerable informal group by 2030.

Commenting on the performance of the scheme, Amen Lawal, a practicing doctor at the University of Benin Teaching hospital said “NHIS has recorded years of ineffectiveness which has limited its capacity.”

According to him, accountability deficits in the operations of the scheme has led to loss of confidence by some stakeholders.

“The leadership, management of the scheme have been ineffective over the years, and the institutional structure has been inconsistent with policy implementation.

“This has limited the capacity of the scheme to provide comprehensive, equitable and qualitative healthcare to Nigerians,” he said.

He also mentioned that the inability of the scheme to effectively coordinate the activities of its various stakeholders like HMOs and HCFs has also affected the overall perception by Nigerians.

He stressed on the need for a legislation to make health insurance compulsory for Nigerians, adding that the voluntary nature of health insurance as prescribed in the NHIS Act, has also impeded its ability to mobilise and pool resources across all sectors, especially the informal sector.