FG unveils NHIA 2023 operational guidelines

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The Federal Government has launched the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) operational guidelines 2023, as it charged the state governments to brace up for adequate implementation to benefit Nigerians at the sub-national level.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate at the event organised by the National Health Insurance Authority(NHIA) noted that access to affordable quality health care for all Nigerians is key on the path to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

He, therefore, said the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 has operationalised these guidelines to provide direction, so that as a country with the federal government contribution with the state and the provisions of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, government will work in a concerted way to expand the affordability of health care for the population in the country, especially the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.

“Federal government is doing a lot in health. What we need to see is the state stepping up by putting the right caliber of human resources at the state health insurance schemes providing coverage for their own formal employees.”

“Also provided the counterpart funding for up to 75% of the BHCPF fund that goes to the States, but the states are to contribute 25%.”

“So if we see that the federal and state government is working hand in hand, Nigerians will get to a point where when somebody has malaria or their child is sick, or have hypertension, cancer or something like that, they will have some reduced burden from the cost of healthcare.”

While speaking further, Pate explained that the guideline has been developed in a consultative manner with engagement with actors like public, private, Civil Society and within the state governments.

According to him, “It is Nigerians coming together to say that people should not be pushed into poverty because of the cost of ill health.

“As we implement on the basis of these guidelines, we should see that more Nigerians are covered over time to meet the goals that have been set by Mr. President for his administration”.

On changing out-of-pocket narratives, Pate said, in the last 40 to 50 years, Nigeria has been in the process of developing a health insurance program, stressing that the President’s aspiration is transformative to leapfrog to faster progress and higher rates of increase in coverage over the next few years.

“With the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, there is a portion of it that is allocated to the vulnerable groups, and we’ll make sure it gets to them complementary to what we’re also going to be investing in the primary health care arena where almost 8000 primary health care centers all over the country are going to be receiving funds through BHCPF”.

Pate also disclosed that the space will be expanded where private sector and development partners can contribute to accelerate and as the fiscal space of the government improves, people should expect more domestic financing going in that direction.

Meanwhile, the Director General of NHIA, Prof. Muhammad Nasir Sambo, in his opening address, said, the NHIA Operational Guideline 2023 is crucial because it is a secondary law, that clarifies roles, responsibilities, and obligations of various stakeholders and facilitated the implementation of Health insurance in Nigeria.

“The NHIA Act of 2022 laid the foundation for a transformative healthcare system in Nigeria that genuinely aspires to leave no one behind. No Nigerian should choose between their health and financial well-being.”

“If health insurance must be met, there must be for the coverage of the vulnerable groups, all those encapsulated in the law, and I’ve been having exponentiated understanding of how we are going to try this to social insurance for the attainment of request health coverage, and sustainable life,” he said.

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