President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 into law.
The new law which 83 million Nigerians will be benefitting from, repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act 2004.
Speaking during the signing of the bill, President Buhari said the new law makes provisions for the setup of a trust fund “to ensure the coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission”.
Garba Shehu quoted his principal as saying during the signing of the law that a Fund will be set up “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission”.
The President was quoted saying:
“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the Authority.”
Buhari noted that the Authority will liaise with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enrol Nigerians into the scheme.
This is part of moves to ensure the delivery of quality health care. The new Act also enables the Authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records to enhance data collection, monitoring, and quality assurance.
Buhari also urged the Health Reform Committee to work with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act.
