Nigeria has recorded a 42 per cent increase in health insurance coverage, with the number of enrollees rising from about 16 million in January 2024 to 23.02 million.
Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed this at a joint media briefing with the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyiwa Aina in Abuja on Thursday.
Ohiri said the increase reflected ongoing efforts to expand access to affordable healthcare, strengthen health insurance coverage and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on Nigerians.
He said the authority was prioritising expanded coverage, equity, quality and sustainability to ensure that more Nigerians could access healthcare without facing severe financial hardship.
According to him, at least 3.18 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians have been enrolled in health insurance through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
He added that the NHIA was working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen implementation of the NHIA Act 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for residents of Nigeria.
Ohiri said the authority was also intensifying public awareness and collaboration with healthcare providers and other stakeholders to improve trust in the health insurance system and encourage wider enrolment.
As part of efforts to protect vulnerable groups, he said more than 270 accredited secondary and tertiary health facilities were providing free comprehensive emergency maternal healthcare services under the relevant programme.
He disclosed that more than 80,000 women had benefited from the initiative, while about 6,000 fistula surgeries had been carried out.
The NHIA chief further said more than 6,000 newborns had received life-saving interventions, while about 60,000 people living with HIV or tuberculosis were benefiting from health coverage.
He added that inmates under the Nigerian Correctional Service had also been approved for health insurance coverage as part of efforts to extend access to underserved populations.
On healthcare financing, Ohiri said the NHIA had reviewed its tariffs after they remained unchanged for about 10 years, with capitation payments doubled and fee-for-service reimbursements increased by 373 per cent.
He said the revised rates took effect on April 1, 2025, as part of measures to improve provider payments and support the delivery of healthcare services.
The authority, he added, had strengthened its complaints-resolution mechanism, with 87 per cent of complaints reportedly resolved within 48 hours. Providers found to have violated applicable rules could face sanctions, delisting or refund requirements.
Meanwhile, Aina said the Federal Government had continued to invest in primary healthcare infrastructure, with 3,526 facilities fully renovated, commissioned and handed over, while work was ongoing at another 908 centres.
He said the facilities were being equipped with essential infrastructure, including electricity, water and sanitation, while more than 78,000 skilled birth attendants had been retrained to improve maternal and newborn healthcare.
Aina added that visits to primary healthcare facilities had increased from about 33 million to between 43 million and 45 million, while initiatives were being implemented to connect pregnant women to primary healthcare services.
The two agencies called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, healthcare providers, development partners, the media and civil society to deepen health sector reforms and expand access to quality healthcare across the country.
