Buhari Signs National Health Insurance Bill Into Law – ‘Coverage For 83m Nigerians’

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022.

Gatekeepers News reports that Buhari disclosed this via his Twitter handle.

He, said the development is part of his administration’s efforts to ensure health coverage for Nigerians.

He said the new bill repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act which has been in existence since 2004.

“As part of our healthcare reforms, I have signed into law the recently passed National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022, which repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act. We will ensure the full implementation of the new Act, to provide coverage for all Nigerians,” he said.

He said the new National Health Insurance Authority will collaborate with state government health insurance schemes to accredit primary and secondary healthcare facilities and ensure the enrollment of Nigerians.

The chairman of the Senate committee on health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, has consistently advocated the signing of the bill into law since it was passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Oloriegbe, who represents Kwara Central in the upper legislative chamber, said the new bill makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

Meanwhile, in a statement subsequently issued by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Buhari said a fund will be set up to ensure coverage of 83 million Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.

He said the “vulnerable group fund” will be financed through the basic health care provision fund, health insurance levy, special intervention fund, as well as any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the authority.

He said this will cover the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums.