President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 into law, which will cover 83 million Nigerians.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by presidential aide Garba Shehu.
He stated that the bill repeals “the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”
During the signing of the law, Garba Shehu quoted his principal as saying that a Fund will be established “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.”
“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the Authority,” Buhari was quoted as explaining.
Buhari noted that the Authority will liaise with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enroll Nigerians into the scheme.
This is part of moves to ensure the delivery of quality health care. The new Act also enables the Authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records to enhance data collection, monitoring, and quality assurance.
The Nigerian leader, therefore, urged the Health Reform Committee to work with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act, the statement added.