PenCom Launches Free Healthcare for Low-Income Pensioners

The Pension Commission (PenCom) has initiated a free healthcare scheme aimed at low-income pensioners in Nigeria. This program, known as Pencar, is designed for retirees aged 60 years and above who receive a monthly pension of less than N70,000.

The pilot phase will accommodate 30,000 eligible retirees, who can register directly through the PenCom website or their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). The initiative, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis, is part of PenCom's corporate social responsibility efforts to ease healthcare costs for pensioners.

The program was announced in a notice issued on a Friday, amid growing concerns regarding the welfare of retirees in Nigeria, particularly as medical bills rise and inflation erodes purchasing power. Muhammad Ahmad, the Director General of PenCom, has been named chairman of the Pencar healthcare program, which aims to ensure that contributors to the pension scheme have access to quality healthcare.