National Health Insurance Scheme’s (NHIS) take-off law, also known as NHIS Decree 35 of 1999, was published in 1999. The NHIS Act, Cap N42, LFN, was created in 2004. Because it made purchasing health insurance optional rather than mandatory, the Law was seen by all parties involved in the health sector as having a poor legal basis. But to make up for the shortcomings of the law establishing the NHIS, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, Act 2022 into law on May 19, 2022, making the Insurance Scheme mandatory for everyone.
NHIS name was replaced with NHIA as the name of the scheme. The new law also established state/FCT health plans, a plan for MDAs, a fund for vulnerable groups, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, or BHCPF, as well as the implementation of the Act and the authority to impose sanctions. The NHIS Act, Cap. N42 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, has been declared invalid by the signing of the NHIA Act 2022.
Law requiring all citizens to have health insurance was signed into law.
Chioma Obinna discussed the performance of Nigeria’s health insurance business in 2022 and prospects for 2023 with Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo, the organization’s immediate past president. Arigbabuwo disclosed fresh hopes and grounds with NHIA. He is also a major member of the National Executive Council and Chairman of the Lagos State NMA Committee on Health Insurance. A cursory study of the new NHIA reveals fresh hopes, the setting of new precedents, and a better organized system.
When a law requiring all citizens to have health insurance was signed into law on May 19, 2022, the road to Universal Health Coverage, or UHC, officially began. The Groups Individuals Families Social Health Insurance Programme or GIFSHIP, is one example of a cutting-edge health insurance that has become more well-established. In the new plan, health insurance for the elderly and retirees received more focus; also, branded medications for NHIA were started as a pilot project in selected states of the federation since mid-2020. The fact that health insurance is now required in Nigeria for everyone is the biggest advantage.
Ten year old tariff’s to be reviewed amid complaints on flaws.
There have been some setbacks, though. And that essentially dealt with how the Act was put into effect. The National Health Insurance Summit took place as part of the implementation process. It was twice delayed, first in October 2022 and then in December 2022. Maybe because of a conflict between some programs and the president’s schedule of duties. The restructuring, remodelling, and modernization of the different Public Primary Health Care centers throughout the States and the nation appear to be the primary uses of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. Last but not least, they anticipate clear, practical instructions for all parties involved.
A crucial issue was the tariffs mandate. To analyse the 10-year-old areas of tariff complaints and shortcomings that harmed healthcare goods and services, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) established a 30-Man Tariffs Review Committee in 2020. Once more meeting for seven months, the committee turned in its reports to the HCPAN leadership in November 2020. At the HCPAN AGM in Lagos in December 2020, this was alluded to. When speaking before a large audience and the media, the former HCPAN president announced that HMOs would have an additional year to evaluate the revised tariffs that were due for implementation.
It is hoped that the new team will better the health situations.
In order to improve the majority of Nigerians’ experience with health insurance, it is hoped that the new HCPAN team, which was established on December 13th, 2022, would be able to continue this route to a logical end with the help of my Ex-Officio capacity as the immediate past President. Everyone should be aware that the new law allows groups, individuals, families, and corporate organizations to use private health insurance as a supplement to social health insurance.
Related Link
NHIA: Website
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