NHIS unveils national health insurance research agenda

The presidential reforms of the operations of the Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria has received a significant boost with the unveiling of the National Health Insurance Research Agenda.

The document was presented to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Mohammed Sambo by the lead consultant of the project, Prof Adegbenga Sumola in Abuja.

Receiving the research roadmap, Sambo underscored the role of research in the industrial and socio-economic development of any nation, stressing that no nation can record meaningful progress without giving research its pride of place.

Sambo said, “Research is the quest for new knowledge to solve society’s problems. This means that no society can develop its human and material resources without research.”

Giving insight into the depth of impact of the ongoing reforms of the health insurance sector, Sambo said that the research agenda was consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari Next level agenda for health which anchors on the evidence-based strategic decision-making process.

Sambo noted that a three-point rebranding agenda, which has to work with evidence as one of its central elements, initiated under his watch, has enabled the achieving of a number of significant milestones in reshaping the health insurance ecosystem.

While commending the lead consultant for the painstaking effort put into producing the document, Sambo assured that the Scheme will apply due diligence in the implementation of the research agenda in the lead up to the attainment of affordable and quality healthcare for all Nigerians, expressing the optimism that the document will attract development partners to commit resources into finding research programmes.

While presenting the document, the lead consultant, Prof Adegbenga Sumola explained that the document was detailed and left no area of health insurance unattended to, adding that the agenda would enable the scheme to be more strategic and systematic in addressing various challenges of the health insurance sector.

The scheme had earlier unveiled and began the implementation of a ten-year strategic plan to culminate in the attainment of universal health

Meanwhile, NHIS and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Corp members to access affordable quality healthcare nationwide.

The signing of MOU between the two agencies was coming to fruition of a plan in which collaboration dates back to 2011.

At the ceremony which attracted members of top management from both organisations, the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Prof Mohammed Sambo noted that an important chapter has been opened in the pursuit of universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria, stressing that extending health insurance to all Nigerians was an integral part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Next Level agenda on health.

Sambo recalled deep efforts made by the leadership of NHIS and NYSC in the build-up to initiation of coverage which included collaboration with members of the national assembly to ensure appropriation of funds in the 2021 budget for corps members’ health insurance and the ministry of finance for release of funds for the purpose.

The health insurance boss noted that healthcare coverage of corpers could not have come at a better time, coinciding with the upward review of their allowances, urging them to reciprocate the various efforts of government in youth development.

Reviewing the various efforts of NHIS aimed at reforming the health insurance sector, Sambo said that the introduction of its flagship service platform, Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) was a game-changer that held the prospect of bringing every Nigerian into the health insurance ecosystem.

He said this against the backdrop of the recent keying into the programme by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

According to Sambo, “No self-respecting nation can lay claim to development without health care for its people. With GIFSHIP we are leaving no one behind in our determination to see that all Nigerians have access to unqualified healthcare.”

In his response, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated that history was being made with the extension of health insurance to corps members, noting that the milestone was first of its kind and therefore was deserving of national attention.

Highlighting the contribution of corps members to national development, Ibrahim stated that corps members who are medical professionals recently conducted delivery for one of their colleagues during the ongoing industrial action of resident doctors, adding that they have continued to play critical roles in nation-building.

In recent times, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has extended health insurance coverage to retirees of the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services under the GIFSHIP initiative.

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NHIS unveils national health insurance research agenda

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