NASS set to pass mandatory health insurance bill ― Senate Committee

The Senate Committee on Health has said the National Assembly will soon pass the legislative framework that will make Health Insurance mandatory in Nigeria

Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Lanre Tejuosho said the National Assembly is currently finalising the proposal of National Health Insurance Act, 2003 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019 named Senate Bill 278 for onward passage to President Muhammadu Buhari for accent.

Tejuoso who is the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, also said the National Assembly injected money for the establishment of Catastrophic Health Fund (CHF) to support the fight against the top three types of cancer including breast, prostate and cervical cancer.

Tejuoso disclosed this at the free medical fair, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“I want to tell you that the National Assembly is in the final process of passing the legislative framework that will make Health Insurance mandatory in Nigeria.”

He noted that the Federal Capital Territory, health insurance and State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) are also included.

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Tejuosho who was represented by his media aide, Toba Ogunremi, said the CHF will be available for only the poor and vulnerable victims of cancer adding that it is part of the initiative to use technology to bridge the gap.

He said the 8th Senate has passed impactful laws in the history of Nigeria including “the laws to support the improved service provision like the Pharmacy act, and non-communicable diseases.”

The Senate also appropriated for the first time the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the 2018 appropriation which “was not included in the appropriation estimates submitted to the National Assembly in 2018. I took unusual and uncommon courage to convince the leadership and colleagues to fully appropriate the funds for the first time in Nigeria,” Tejuoso said.

According to him, “the National Assembly revised the PCN Act to support task shifting endeavours and also to promote private investments in the pharmaceutical sector.

Tejuoso also lamented over the inadequate number of physicians employed in both public and private health facilities saying “the World Health Organisation (WHO), the ideal requirement in doctor-patient ratio should be one doctor to 600 patients, it is pathetic that one doctor presently attends to more than 6,000 patients in this country.”