Functional NHIS, answer to universal health coverage – Experts

Medical experts have said until Nigeria has a functional National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), it will not attain the Sustainable Development Goals target of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

They lamented that the UHC, as stated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for all countries of the world to attain before the stipulated year, which include access to quality, essential and affordable healthcare services as well as safe, effective medicines and vaccines for all, is contrary to what the Nigerian situation is today.

This was stated at a press conference to herald the 2019 ‘August Event’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Nicholas Hospital and its founder’s foundation, Chief Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation, on his passion for growth and development in healthcare and education in Nigeria.

The bi-yearly event themed ‘Universal Health Coverage and the Role of a Functional National Health Insurance Scheme’ is billed for Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by 10 a.m.

Zonal co-ordinator of NHIS, Olufemi Akingbade; former Lagos state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris and other medical experts at home and in the Diaspora  will discuss the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the task of fostering an accessible and functional National Health Insurance Scheme.

Clinical Director, St. Nicholas Hospital, Dr Ebun Bamgboye who spoke at the conference, said the issue of the NHIS and the UHC was pioneered by the late Majekodunmi in the 60s as the then minister of health, which was presented as a bill to the House of Representatives.

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