Stakeholders Call for Expanded Health Insurance in Nigeria

During a mid-year meeting held at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, stakeholders in Nigeria's healthcare sector raised alarms about the country's poor health insurance coverage. Uchenna Uzoma Apakama, Chairman of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), noted that only five to eight percent of Nigerians currently enjoy health insurance coverage, leaving millions exposed to catastrophic medical expenses.

He urged the government to accelerate health insurance enrollment, particularly among informal sector workers. The stakeholders called for a dedicated fund to sponsor health insurance premiums for vulnerable Nigerians.

Former Minister of Health Julius Adelusi Adeluyi emphasized the need for Nigeria to value health as a material possession, citing Germany's successful health insurance system established centuries ago. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, President of PSN, reaffirmed the society's commitment to supporting ongoing healthcare reforms.

The National Health Insurance Authority's representative, Kelechi Ohiri, stressed that universal health coverage cannot be achieved without eliminating financial barriers to healthcare access.