NHIS WILL EXCEED 30% HEALTH COVERAGE BY 2015 -- EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Femi Thomas on Tuesday said universal health coverage of 30 per cent for Nigerians by 2015 was achievable.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Head, Media and Public Relations of NHIS, Mr Ayo Osinlu in Abuja.

The statement quoted Thomas as assuring Nigerians that NHIS under his leadership was committed to meeting the presidential mandate.

The executive secretary said that NHIS planned to achieve 40 per cent by 2015, exceeding the WHO universal health coverage recommendation of 30 per cent.

Thomas said that the scheme was already working on the blueprint of a programme for extending effective, affordable and efficient healthcare to all primary school pupils across the country.

He said that the move was informed by the urgent need to save the future of the country from the socioeconomic consequences of the continued vulnerability of this sensitive section of the population.

He called for the speedy passage of the bill seeking to amend the NHIS act to enable Nigerians achieves universal health coverage.

``According to statistics from the National Population Commission, primary school pupils constitute about 42 million of our population.

``It is common knowledge that sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular is in dire need of a robust healthcare delivery system.

``Nigeria specifically has the highest population growth rate in West Africa. The latest population figures stand at 160million people, about 25 per cent of the sub Saharan population.

``However, for Nigeria's social health insurance scheme to achieve full coverage of its citizens there is need for the nation to take a few bold steps.

``One of the steps is the speedy passage of the bill seeking to amend the NHIS Act," he said.

Thomas said that when amended, the Act would make health insurance mandatory in the country in both the public and private sectors of the economy.

He said that the scheme was also considering expansion of funding opportunities to generate sufficient resources that would address subsidy gaps that might emerge in the process.

He promised to spearhead an aggressive sensitisation process across the country.

The executive secretary said that this would help to create necessary awareness about the opportunities and benefits of health insurance.
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