NHIA Implements Health Technology Assessment for Better Spending

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has adopted Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to enhance healthcare spending efficiency in Nigeria. Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the Director-General of NHIA, announced this during a presentation titled “Progress of Health Technology Assessment Institutionalisation in Nigeria” at the inauguration of the HTA Steering Committee on Wednesday.

The event was officiated by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Ohiri stated that HTA would facilitate evidence-based decisions regarding healthcare coverage, reimbursement, pricing, and resource allocation, aligning with Nigeria's goal of Universal Health Coverage.

The NHIA has established a Strategic Purchasing Department and a dedicated HTA Division since 2025, developing essential documents to guide HTA implementation. Additionally, the NHIA has invested in local capacity by training postgraduate students in HTA at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, and conducted a Nigerian EQ-5D-5L valuation study to generate relevant local evidence.