The federal government has released the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) operational instructions to improve the new NHIA statute that will be brought into law in 2022.
During the guidelines’ Tuesday introduction in Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, gave an assurance that the NHIA Act and operational guidelines will signal a turning point for the nation’s health insurance system to advance more quickly.
According to him, “The guidelines will provide direction for the country to ensure more Nigerians are covered and to expand the affordability of healthcare for the population, especially the most vulnerable.”
States were urged by him to make sure they enrolled the formal sector and provided the 25% matching payment.
The NHIA’s Director General, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, clarified that the guideline upholds the values of equity, quality, and sustainability while also outlining the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of stakeholders.
The guidelines, according to Alexander Chimbaru, the Deputy Country Representative for Nigeria for the World Health Organization (WHO), address the issues with the previous National Health Insurance Scheme.