President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law, the recently passed National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022, which seeks to repeal the National Health Insurance Scheme of 2004.
President Buhari said at the signing of the new law that a Fund would be set up to ensure coverage of 83 million Nigerians, who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.
He explained that a Vulnerable Group Fund would be set up to include a component of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the Authority.
The President stated that the Authority would collaborate with State Government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enroll Nigerians into the scheme to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare.
The new Act also enables the Authority and State Governments to develop information management systems and digital records for better data collection, monitoring and quality assurance.
President Buhari tasked the Health Reform Committee to work with State Governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act.