NHIA and Senate Advocate Health Tax Reforms for Nigeria

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Senate have called for health tax reforms in Nigeria to promote sustainable healthcare financing, expand health insurance coverage, and combat non-communicable diseases. This initiative was announced during a National Stakeholder Co-creation Workshop on Realising Health Taxes for Sustainable Health Financing and Curbing Non-Communicable Diseases held in Abuja.

NHIA Director-General Dr Kelechi Ohiri emphasized the need for collaboration among government ministries, lawmakers, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the media. He noted that Nigeria faces challenges with infectious diseases and maternal mortality, alongside a rising burden of non-communicable diseases linked to sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco, and alcohol.

Ohiri mentioned that the Senate had passed the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Bill, which is pending concurrence by the House of Representatives. The proposed reforms aim to enhance the existing tax framework and allocate resources to health promotion and disease prevention.

He cited the Philippines as a successful example of using health taxes to expand coverage and reduce disease burden.