The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) management retreat with the theme: “Repositioning Insurance Scheme towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.”, took place in Kaduna, Nigeria.
During the retreat, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, reiterated his commitment to deliver optimal health service to all Nigerians. The aim of the retreat was to reposition the institution to deliver healthcare to all Nigerians, especially to the poor and vulnerable in the society.
According to a publication on The Eagle Online, Prof. Usman Yusuf said that the meeting was geared towards consensus building and support among stakeholders towards repositioning the scheme for effective service delivery, and that the scheme had a goal to reach pregnant women, children under five, the disabled, unemployed and the internally displaced persons.
According to him, he had the mandate from the presidency to ensure that the scheme worked for all Nigerians.
He decried the irregularities operated amongst the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and health service providers; stating that they did not care for the enrollees, adding that enrollees needed to be treated better.
“There is no way we can achieve universal coverage if we continue to give our resources to people that do not deserve it.
“I will be the face of NHIS and the voice of the enrollees, and all that we do must be in their best interest, while their rights shall be respected and defended.”
He said the scheme would be purged of endemic corruption, inefficiency and political patronage, adding that HMOs should be accountable in returning to the pool, resources not used by them.
Yusuf commended the Nigerian Labour Congress as one of the organizations that stood for the rights of citizens. He, however, requested the full cooperation and support of the leadership of the labour movement and all Nigerian workers, to make the scheme deliver service in top quality.
Also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Dr Chike Okafor, duly represented by Senator Mohammed Usman, noted that health care was part of the legislative agenda of the assembly.
He said the scheme was established in 2005 to improve the wellbeing of citizens in Nigeria, and to serve as a social security in providing financial security for the citizens against unforeseen ill health.
Usman added that the scheme had a mandate in ensuring that every Nigerian has access to health care services.
Image credit: National Health Insurance Scheme
