The federal government has announced an increase in the health insurance capitation fee for enrollees from N750 to N1,450 per person, as part of efforts to enhance service quality and access to affordable healthcare.
Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, made this known in a statement on Saturday, noting that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s goal of achieving universal health coverage by 2030.
A capitation fee refers to the fixed amount paid to healthcare providers for each registered patient within a set period.
According to Pate, the government has also increased fee-for-service rates by 380 percent to reflect current costs and improve care standards.
“For years, the capitation stood at N750 per person. We have doubled it to N1,450 to ensure providers are properly equipped to deliver consistent, high-quality care,” he said.
“Fee-for-service rates have also been increased by 380%, based on actuarial evidence aligning cost-reflective rates with quality requirements.”
The minister revealed that over 2.4 million Nigerians were newly enrolled in 2024, bringing total coverage to around 20 million people, with plans to expand to 44 million by 2030.
He added that nearly 120,000 health workers have been trained since 2023, while 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers have been recruited to strengthen frontline services. Additionally, 4,000 health personnel have joined federal tertiary hospitals to address workforce shortages.
“Out-of-pocket payments still account for about 70 percent of health spending. Expanding insurance coverage is the surest way to reduce this burden,” Pate stated.
To improve efficiency, the minister said the government has introduced a one-hour referral authorisation code to speed up patient transfers from primary to specialist care.
He further directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to begin covert ‘mystery shopping’ to monitor providers and ensure enrollees receive prompt care.
Pate concluded that ongoing reforms under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the NHIA are restoring public confidence and expanding access to health insurance nationwide.