NIGERIA. Abuja: President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has signed the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority Bill. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the latest bill is aimed at complementing the existing National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which is aimed at providing health insurance to Nigerians.
Shehu, who signed the new bill in Abuja, said it is aimed at the 83 million vulnerable Nigerians who cannot afford to pay their medical bills, as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.
“For the purpose of what the bill is created, the funding will be done through setting up of a ‘Vulnerable Group Fund, Basic Health Care Provision Fund, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the Authority,” Shehu said.
The Presidency also stated that the newly established authority would work with state and local governments to support primary and secondary health facilities to achieve the scheme’s goals.
On the other hand, the bill will provide adequate support to the authority responsible, state governments, in putting in place mechanisms such as information management systems and digital records to improve data collection and service delivery.
The Presidency urged the Health Reform Committee to always do the right thing by collaborating with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Health Insurance Authority to achieve the scheme’s goals.
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