NHIA, Stakeholders Announce Tariff Hike For Healthcare Services
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and stakeholders have agreed on new tariffs for medicines and medical services.
Acting Director of Media and Public Relations at the NHIA, Emmanuel Ononokpono disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Ononokpono informed that the agreement was reached at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja.
He noted that the meeting settled for a 60 per cent increase in the capitation and a 40 per cent upward review in Fee-For-Service.
Capitation and Fee-For-Service are forms of payment made to healthcare providers for services rendered to beneficiaries under NHIA.
The statement read in part:
“The new tariffs, which apply to current services offered under the NHIA, take immediate effect.
“It was further agreed that the new price regime is without prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing actuarial studies commissioned by the Authority.
“The meeting, which included representatives of the Association of Private Medical Practitioners, the Health Maintenance Organisations, the Guild of Medical Directors, and other key players in the health insurance ecosystem, endorsed a six-point communique with a range of resolutions.
“For purposes of transparency and synergy, the forum will hold a quarterly meeting to align with developments in the sector”.
The statement further disclosed that the Director General of the NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri in his keynote address said that access to affordable and quality healthcare by the enrollee remained a top priority of the Authority, urging stakeholders to put the interest of Nigerians on top of all other considerations.
On the imperative of stakeholders’ cooperation, Dr Ohiri noted that all hands must be on deck to achieve the goal of universal health coverage, assuring that the authority will maintain a close and cordial relationship with all relevant stakeholders.
“NHIA does not take its stakeholders for granted. We always appreciate their collaboration within the context of achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage”, Ohiri said.
