WHY HEALTH INSURANCE MUST BE MADE COMPULSORY NOW— EXPERT

For qualitative healthcare to be
available to Nigerians in the face of
the current economic challenges, an
expert in medicine, Professor
Abiodun Ilesanmi has adviced the
Federal Government to make
enrolment in the National Health
Insurance Scheme compulsory.
Ilesanmi, a former Chief Medical
Director, University College
Hospitals (UCH), Ibadan spoke at
the opening of 2016 Annual General
Meeting of the Nigerian Medical
Association (NMA), Oyo state
Branch.
The expert said that not much
progress would be made in the
financing of health care and in
achieving universal free healthcare
until health insurance becomes
mandatory.
According to him, “That only four
per cent coverage has been
achieved so far speaks volume
about the lack of seriousness in
achieving universal healthcare in
Nigeria. Even in universities and
other higher institutions owned by
government, NHIS enrolment is still
laughable.
“One of the reasons for this when
you interact with people is that they
are lacking confidence in the NHIS.”
The expert, noting that Nigerians
must be convinced that health is
important as housing, clothing and
food, added that the National
budget should also provide 15 per
cent for health at Federal and State
levels in keeping with the Abuja
recommendation of 2001 to ensure
there is no underfunding.
According to him, “if implemented,
the revenue injected into health will
increase nearly three-fold which will
make a big difference.”
The expert said that fragmented
governance and lack of
transparency, coupled with a big
financing gap, has led to weak
infrastructure in service delivery and
information systems, an insufficient
skilled workforce and a lack of
medical products/logistics.
These challenges, he declared, had
resulted in a high and growing
burden of disease, including a shift
of disease profile towards non
communicable diseases like
hypertension as well as neglect of
primary health care and specialised
medical care, among others.
As parts of strategies to improve
access to qualitative healthcare,
Ilesanmi suggested that government
should fund some natural payment
schemes like the community health
insurance and introduction of
privatisation into healthcare in
select institutions.
Also of importance is to streamline
bureaucratic processes that limit
access to money to establish health
facilities, especially private health
facilities.
According to him, “the will to
improve healthcare is abundant, but
what is in short supply is the
financial strength to actualises
those lofty plans.”
Ilesanmi also suggested the use of
private sector to boost healthcare
as well as increased research into
traditional medicines /traditional
health care and the incorporation of
the efficacious ones.
Dr Kayode Obembe, former NMA
National president and chairman at
the occasion said the meeting was
aimed at reflecting on the ever
increasing economic challenges in
Nigeria given that health is crucial
to people’s existence.
Although the National Health Act
made some provisions for funding
health and as such can support
achievement of universal health
coverage, Obembe said asking state
governments for counterpart funds
will make the act unable to achieve
this.
Also, the fact that such funds must
first pass through the state
government’s treasury, he said will
prevent getting to the local
government where health problems
abound the most.
To ensure that Nigeria achieves
universal health coverage and
Sustainable Development Goals, he
suggested that the Federal
government should establish a
health tax fund.
The monies for the health tax fund,
he said, could come from charging
phone, cigarette and alcohol users
among others.
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