The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the National Health Insurance Authority Bill recently signed will provide over 83 million vulnerable Nigerians access to universal health coverage.
The bill which is aimed at attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 is a long-awaited project, as plans have been concluded to kick start quality healthcare delivery in the country.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha during a courtesy visit paid by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in his office in Abuja.
Boss said the signing of the NHIA bill into law seeks to reduce poverty and improve the nation’s economy for development.
“In May of this year, we had the President signed the bill, now made it to an act to create first, the agency that is going to administer the universal health insurance coverage to cater for the 83 million vulnerable you mentioned. And also to superintend over the general administration of the insurance coverage across the length and breadth of this country.”
Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo Kazadi, and the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo commended the President, Muhammadu Buhari for the kind gesture stressing that improving the health and economic status of every Nigeria is paramount to attaining the SDG 2030.
“I congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA), which would make healthcare services accessible to the vulnerable in the society and by extension, improve the health and economic status of Nigerians.” Said Dr. Walter Mulombo Kazadi, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria.
“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the bold step he has taken to sign into law the National Health Insurance Act.
The singular feat achieved by Mr. President would place Nigeria on a trajectory of attaining universal health coverage for all Nigerians in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.” Said Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
