Akure, Ondo State – The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has assured healthcare stakeholders and enrollees of its renewed commitment to achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria through inclusive engagement and improved service delivery.
This was made known during a one-day stakeholders’ forum held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Akure, with the theme: “Inclusive Engagement: A Road Map to Universal Health Coverage.”
The forum brought together healthcare providers, health maintenance organizations, and enrollees in Ondo State to review recent reforms and share insights on future outlooks.
Highlighting the key developments, Dr. Adebiyi Adebisi, Coordinator of NHIA, Ondo State Office, said the agency had introduced critical reforms, including increased enrollment, improved provider payment systems, expansion of the vulnerable group fund, and review of contributory schemes.
“The new development in NHIA is about improving services. Recently, we reviewed the tariff to ensure healthcare providers are compensated fairly,” Dr. Adebisi said.
“We have also started new programs such as the Seam-Up Program for obstetric emergencies. This initiative ensures that any woman with life-threatening complications who cannot afford hospital bills is fully covered by NHIA.”
Participants described the forum as an eye-opener to the realities of effective health insurance coverage in Nigeria.
Dr. Michael Ojo, a participant, said:
“This program is very important to us. If there is anything we have learned, it is that administrators must ensure they pass this vital information down to others.”
Another participant, Mrs. Opeyemi Olotu, noted the financial relief the reforms would bring:
“In my area of work, we lose a lot of money. But with these new services introduced, it’s going to help us a lot.”
For Mrs. Yemisi Ehinmitan, the clarity provided by NHIA will improve service delivery at the primary healthcare level.
“There are some services we have been rendering to enrollees without realizing they fall under secondary care. Now we know we need to get the right codes for them,” she said.
The NHIA, established by the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022, is tasked with driving Nigeria towards universal health insurance coverage. Through schemes like the contributory health insurance and vulnerable group fund, the agency seeks to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
Participants at the forum lauded the initiative and expressed optimism that the reforms will strengthen the health system and bring the country closer to universal health coverage.
