FG Plans Health Insurance For 50m Nigerians, Says Shettima

Federal government has promised to expand health insurance coverage to reach 50 million Nigerians in the next four years.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this yesterday at the 40th anniversary celebration of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

Shettima said one of the primary objectives of the 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 pledged that Nigerians will have access to quality healthcare services through strengthened primary and secondary health facilities.

He said, “We will proactively expand insurance coverage, the government commits to reach at least minimum of 50 million Nigerians by 2027.”

The vice president highlighted the priorities of President Tinubu’s  health agenda as health governance, leadership and institutional reforms, health financing and reduction of out of pocket spending, integrated healthcare delivery, ensure local manufacturing of health products, expand investment on medical education, reverse brain drain and medical tourism.

Shettima said the federal government had approved payment of allowances for resident doctors.

Borno State governor, Babagana Umara 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.

The chief medical director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, said in the last 40 years, the hospital had provided services to over 33 million people thereby increasing the level of patronage by 150 percent.

Former minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewole, called on the management of the hospital to focus on training medical professionals in areas of cancer, kidney and heart to take care of the special needs of people in the region and beyond.