The Federal government has expressed commitment to expanding health insurance coverage to reach fifty million Nigerians in the next four years.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known at the fortieth anniversary celebration of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital UMTH.
Senator Shettima said one of the primary objective of Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu was achieving universal health coverage by ensuring all Nigerians access healthcare in an equitable manner.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas Kolo, the Vice President assured that Nigerians will have access to quality healthcare services through a strengthen primary and secondary health facilities.
“We will proactively expand insurance coverage, the Government commits to reach at least minimum of 50 million Nigerians by 2027”
He highlighted priorities of President Tinubu’s health agenda to include, health governance, leadership and institutional reforms, health financing and reduce out of pocket spending, integrated healthcare delivery, ensure local manufacturing of health products, expand investment on medical education, reverse brain drain and medical tourism.
Kashim Shettima also announced that the Federal government has approved payment of allowances for resident doctors.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum congratulated the Teaching Hospital for the great milestone achieved in the health sector.
He urged the hospital to embrace smart medicine through the use of artificial intelligence, technology and data science to upgrade its services.
Chief Medical Director University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Professor Ahmed Ahidjo said in the last forty years, the hospital has provided services to over thirty three million people thereby increasing level of patronage by one hundred and fifty percent.
Former Minster of Health Professor Isaac Adewole called on the management of the hospital to focus on training of medical professionals in areas of cancer, kidney and heart to take care of special needs of people in the region and beyond.
Correspondent Dauda Iliya reports that the week-long activity was climaxed by inauguration of legacy projects including the Child Institute as well as foundation laying ceremony of Heart and ICT Centres.
Dauda Iliya
