• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Monday, May 26, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

NHIA Enforces One-hour Referral Policy, Cracks Down On Delays In HMO Approvals

by Leadership News and Patience Ivie Ihejirika
3 weeks ago
in News
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

 

Advertisement

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched unannounced compliance checks at health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enforce adherence to its new directive mandating Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to issue referral authorisation codes within one hour.

The compliance drive, led by NHIA’s enforcement team, aims to ensure that healthcare services to enrollees are not delayed due to authorisation bottlenecks.

The policy, introduced under the leadership of NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, stipulates that healthcare providers must proceed with treatment if HMO authorization is not received within the one-hour window.

The NHIA Ag. Director, Media & PR, Emmanuel Ononokpono, said in a statement on Sunday that the NHIA team evaluated how well the facilities and associated HMOs were adhering to the directive during an unscheduled assessment visit to two major public hospitals in Abuja: Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, and the National Hospital.

RELATED

Ribadu Leads Delegation To Chad President Deby

AVID Faults Ribadu Over Comment Linking IPOB To Violence

8 minutes ago
Defamation: Late Ohinoyi’s Son Threatens Ex-NASS Clerk With Lawsuit, N50m Damages

Defamation: Late Ohinoyi’s Son Threatens Ex-NASS Clerk With Lawsuit, N50m Damages

8 minutes ago

According to him, at the National Hospital, NHIA’s Acting Director of Enforcement, Dr. Habib Abdulhamid, reported a compliance rate of approximately 70 per cent. He noted that while the hospital had made some progress, certain staff involved in processing pre-authorisations were still unfamiliar with the updated protocols.

He added that the NHIA team conducted on-the-spot sensitisation to address these gaps.

 

 

 

He said several HMOs breaching the one-hour rule were contacted immediately during the inspection.

 

 

 

Ononokpono also stated that the NHIA Desk Officer at the National Hospital, Mr. Tony Osuji, informed the team that internal measures have been introduced to reduce patient waiting time and streamline access to care under the NHIA scheme.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, he said at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, the team found full compliance by HMOs. However, the assessment revealed a case where delays were caused by the hospital’s late data upload, despite prompt response from the HMO.

 

 

 

Providing a general review of the inspection, NHIA’s Director for North-Central B region, Dr. Chris Okoh, acknowledged improvements in response time at both facilities but stressed the need for continuous improvement, especially among HMOs, the statement explained.

 

 

 

Dr. Abdulhamid reiterated the NHIA’s commitment to enforcing the new directive nationwide. He warned that healthcare providers and HMOs who fail to comply would face sanctions, as outlined by the Authority’s guidelines.

 

 

 

“The NHIA will not hesitate to sanction any erring HMO or facility. We are committed to ensuring enrollees get timely access to healthcare without bureaucratic delays,” he said.

 

 

 

NHIA is expected to continue similar monitoring exercises in other parts of the country in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to strengthen health service delivery and accountability.

 

 


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel



Tags: National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Oyo Govt To Re-model 3 Rural Markets With N3.5bn

Next Post

‘Kyari’s Record At NNPCL One Of The Most Transparent’, Lawyers Dismiss EFCC Probe

Leadership News and Patience Ivie Ihejirika

Leadership News and Patience Ivie Ihejirika

You May Like

Ribadu Leads Delegation To Chad President Deby
News

AVID Faults Ribadu Over Comment Linking IPOB To Violence

2025/05/26
Defamation: Late Ohinoyi’s Son Threatens Ex-NASS Clerk With Lawsuit, N50m Damages
News

Defamation: Late Ohinoyi’s Son Threatens Ex-NASS Clerk With Lawsuit, N50m Damages

2025/05/26
Abe Raises Alarm Over Arrest, Detention Of SDP Members In Rivers
News

Defection: Usman Joins SDP

2025/05/26
News

Call For More Taxes On Sugar May Hurt Nigeria’s Economy – Expert

2025/05/26
News

Foundation Distributes 500 Reusable Sanitary Pads To FCT Women, Girls

2025/05/26
Doctorate Honour: I’m Inspired To Support Growth, Development – Oduntan
News

Doctorate Honour: I’m Inspired To Support Growth, Development – Oduntan

2025/05/26
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

AVID Faults Ribadu Over Comment Linking IPOB To Violence

Defamation: Late Ohinoyi’s Son Threatens Ex-NASS Clerk With Lawsuit, N50m Damages

Defection: Usman Joins SDP

Call For More Taxes On Sugar May Hurt Nigeria’s Economy – Expert

Foundation Distributes 500 Reusable Sanitary Pads To FCT Women, Girls

Doctorate Honour: I’m Inspired To Support Growth, Development – Oduntan

FG Leads Grassroots Campaign To Simplify Taxation For Nigerians

ANUPA Organises Training For Varsity Professionals

FG Targets 19m Depth For $1.5bn Lekki Deep Seaport To Maintain Hub Status

NNPC/Heirs Energies JV Unveils Medical Mission In Port Harcourt

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.