News

Research experts in Nigeria on Thursday attributed the public’s reluctance towards health insurance coverage to several factors, including high registration fees and limited treatment options, among others.

These concerns were raised at the Policy Dialogue on Human Capital Development Project, organised in Abuja by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research in partnership with the African Economic Research Consortium.

This comes two months after the National Health Insurance Authority reported a significant 11 per cent increase in total health insurance enrolment at both national and state levels over the past year.

Director General of the NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, stated that with the 11 per cent increase, the total national enrolment on their register now stands at about 18.7 million people.

Speaking at the event, Osagie Uyi-Aivinhenyo, the Delivery Manager for the Central Coordination Unit under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy, expressed concern that unless the high costs of the insurance scheme are addressed, many patients will continue to avoid it.

He said, “I recently took some individuals in their 40s to register for health insurance with some Health Management Organisations, and I found the rates to be prohibitively expensive. This is likely why many Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, are discouraged and unwilling to participate.

“If health insurance cannot even cover critical treatments, it becomes disheartening. Additionally, some patients may avoid it because they know they can’t afford quality care.”

He further emphasised that one of the key issues the Ministry of Health is tackling is expanding the health insurance scheme. He added that the 2024 enrolment target of 18 million people was too low and urged the government to take action.

Uyi-Aivinhenyo also highlighted issues of exclusivity, noting that special treatment is often given to certain groups, such as retired military personnel, a privilege not extended to civil servants.

“Policies in Nigeria are often not all-inclusive. Even in the health insurance scheme, the coverage provided to the military cannot be compared to what civil servants receive,” he said. “I’ve seen the benefits available to military personnel and veterans under the insurance scheme, which are far superior to what other Nigerians receive.”

Dr Noah Olasehinde, a researcher from the University of Ibadan, also expressed concern, stating that the scheme must address certain key issues in order to better serve patients.

He observed that the special medical treatments provided are not limited to retired military personnel, but also depend on the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) managing them.

“There are some privileged MDAs [Ministries, Departments, and Agencies] that benefit significantly and are favoured by the HMOs. They determine whether to move an individual from the public category to the special one. So, it’s not just the military that enjoys such inclusion,” he explained. “It’s systemic and somewhat hidden. This issue must be addressed intentionally.”

He also emphasised the need to focus on women and children, as women often take greater responsibility for household care when empowered, unlike men who may be less attentive to details.

Earlier, NISER Director General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, called for increased funding and the need to ensure that more Nigerians are enrolled in the health insurance scheme.

She stressed that this is the only way to save patients from relying heavily on out-of-pocket expenses and other catastrophic health expenditures.

 

Source: Punch  on October 10, 2024