Community Health Insurance Scheme Takes Off Next Year – NHIS

Lagos, Sep 20, 2010 (Daily Trust/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme,(NHIS) Dr. Mohammed Bello Dogo-Muhammad, has said that the community health insurance scheme would take off next year.

The NHIS scribe told journalists in Lagos at the weekend that all those who do not have any health insurance because of their informal and unfixed income earnings will be covered by the scheme.

Dogo-Muhammad, who spoke shortly after receiving an award from the Health & Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) for his contributions to the success of health insurance in Nigeria, said the blueprint for the scheme has been developed.

"We have developed the blueprint for community health insurance, which involves the critical group in Nigeria. Unemployed Nigerians and self-employed Nigerians in the rural and semi-urban areas, who do not have regular incomes will be covered by the scheme. We hope to flag that off by the first quarter of next year," he said.

He added that by next year, all Nigerian students in tertiary institutions would be covered by NHIS.

He expressed satisfaction with the coverage level of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria, adding that by 2015, the 100 per cent target will be achieved.

"We have covered about 5 million. On the maternal and child health level, we have covered up to N1.2 million. In the organised private sector, were the HMOs are playing critical roles, they have covered a substantial amount, but we are yet to have the figures," he said.

The chairman of HMCAN, Dr. Ladi Okuboyejo, said if not for the efforts of the recipients, the less privileged would not have access to quality health care delivery.

Others honoured by HMCAN include, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who received an award for introducing the health insurance scheme, Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and Professor Eyitayo Lambo.