The Federal Government has introduced operational guidelines for the National Health Insurance Authority, building on the new NHIA act signed into law in 2022.
According to Daily Trust, the guidelines were officially launched on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized that the NHIA Act and its operational guidelines represent a pivotal moment for advancing health insurance in the country.
He noted that these guidelines will set a clear direction to expand healthcare coverage and affordability, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Pate encouraged state governments to allocate more resources to strengthen their insurance schemes, enroll their formal sector members, and provide the required 25% counterpart funding for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
The Director General of the NHIA, Professor Mohammed Sambo, highlighted that the guidelines provide clarity on the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of various stakeholders while promoting equity, quality, and sustainability in healthcare.
While the Deputy Country Representative of the World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Alexander Chimbaru, commended the guidelines for addressing the challenges present in the former National Health Insurance Scheme.
