FG Announces New Policy on Compulsory Health Insurance for Employers

FG Announces New Policy on Compulsory Health Insurance for Employers

President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated all employers and employees in public, private, and informal sectors to have access to health insurance.

This development was initiated when the Federal Government noted that only states with established health insurance schemes and contributory schemes would benefit from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.

 THECONSCIENCENG reports that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2021 last week.

The newly signed law by the President repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act 2004.

Under the previous Act, states were required to pay a 50 percent counterpart fund to access the total fund for the BHCPF.

 Reports indicate that Buhari’s signing of the new Act is part of the moves by the FG to ensure that Nigeria achieves Universal Health Coverage, a Sustainable Development Goal by 2030.

Section 13, subsection 8 of the newly signed Act, provided that

“Every state that has established a State Health Insurance or Contributory Scheme and complies with this Act’s requirements shall be eligible to participate in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as established under the National Health Act and its guidelines.”

Similarly, section 14, subsections 1 and 2, stated that “Subject to the provisions of this Act, every person resident in Nigeria shall be required to obtain health insurance. Residents under this act include all employers and employees in public and private sectors with five staff and above, informal sector employees, and all other residents of Nigeria.

Further reports show that the sponsor of the bill, Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe, representing Kwara State Senatorial District in his lead debate, noted that “the bill would provide for a robust, affordable and sustainable financial mechanism for health. The bill will enhance the ability of Nigeria to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030”.

Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, a former council member of the NHIS and Chief Executive Officer of the Ultimate Health Management Services, Lekan Ewenla, noted that the new law was meticulously written to ensure strict compliance and ensure that Nigerians, most especially the vulnerable ones, get access to healthcare services.