NHIA Tackles Healthcare Gaps with Multi-Pronged Reform Strategy

By LOVETH AZODO,  Lagos

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to address persistent issues such as drug shortages and delays in healthcare service delivery.

This was disclosed by the Director General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) held in Lagos. Dr. Ohiri was represented by Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Haruna, Deputy Director, NHIA Lagos Zone. Haruna noted that the Authority, formerly known as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has significantly broadened its coverage to include fistula patients.

Through the Fistula-Free Initiative and Financing CEmOC Services, the NHIA has, as of May 2025, empowered over 7,500 women. She highlighted that 2,690 women have successfully undergone life-changing obstetric fistula repairs across 17 dedicated centres, while an additional 5,289 women have benefited from emergency obstetric care at over 200 CEmOC facilities.

Dr. Ohiri outlined NHIA’s major interventions from 2024 to 2025, which include the revision of tariffs, resolution of enrollees’ complaints, sanctioning of non-compliant providers and HMOs, revised accreditation protocols, and a mandated one-hour time limit for care authorization code issuance.

“These interventions are directly addressing long-standing issues like drug shortages, denial of care, delays in code issuance, and late payments to healthcare providers,” he stated.

Speaking on the Cancer Treatment Initiative, Ohiri revealed that the NHIA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ROCHE to provide cost-sharing access to cancer medications for NHIA enrollees.

Initially launched in five teaching hospitals, the program is now being expanded to more facilities, ensuring broader access for cancer patients under the scheme. He added that NHIA has also fully automated its accreditation process for health facilities.

“A few years ago, we upgraded to semi-automation; today, the process is fully online using international Safe Care tools,” he said.

According to him, over 192 facilities in Lagos have already undergone this digital accreditation. NHIA will soon commence re-accreditation, ensuring that all previously approved facilities still meet the upgraded standards.

“Those that fail to meet the new benchmark will be removed from the platform,” he emphasized.