83 million Nigerians To Benefit As Buhari Signs National Health Authority Bill 

Statistics says almost 8 out of 10 Nigerians do not have health insurance coverage, with the bulk of them having to pay cash if they need to visit a health care facility while they are ill.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The Federal Government has disclosed how the recently signed National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 would cover nearly 83 million impoverished Nigerians who cannot afford to pay health insurance premiums.

According to the government, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be established that will comprise a portion of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund owing to the authority, the Health Insurance Levy, the Special Intervention Fund, and any investment earnings, contributions, and presents to authorities.

Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, reported on his official Twitter account on Friday, May 20, 2022, that President Muhammadu Buhari has just signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022.

According to Shehu, the president indicated during the signing of the law that the authority would partner with state government health insurance plans to accredit primary and secondary health institutions and enrol Nigerians in the programme to ensure the delivery of excellent health services.

He also mentioned that the new law allows the authority and state governments to build information management systems and digital records to improve data collecting, monitoring, and quality assurance.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the newly enacted National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 into law on Thursday, May 19, 2022, with the goal of increasing health insurance coverage for needy residents who cannot pay the price of health care in Africa’s most populous country.

Statistics says almost 8 out of 10 Nigerians do not have health insurance coverage, with the bulk of them having to pay cash if they need to visit a health care facility while they are ill.