Senior Citizens hail new National Health Insurance Authority Act
The National Senior Citizens Centre has commended the newly signed National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Omini Oden, Head, Corporate Affairs, Media and Publicity, NSCC, on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on May 19 signed into law, the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, repealing thereby, the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Announcing on his verified Twitter handle, Buhari said that the new law was part of his administration’s efforts to achieve universal Health Coverage for Nigerians.
Buhari had said that a Vulnerable Group Fund would be set up to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who could not afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.
He said that the Authority would collaborate with state governments’ Health Insurance Schemes by empowering them (state governments) to accredit primary and secondary healthcare facilities and ensure the enrollment of Nigerians in the scheme.
Oden quoted the Director-General of the NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokaro, as saying that the new Act was a springboard and backbone to the National Senior Citizens Centre, NPHCDA and WHO-Nigeria MOU on mainstreaming Geriatric care into Primary HealthCare to ensure Integrated Care for Older Persons (ICOPE).
“Dr. Omokaro commends the foresightedness of President Muhammadu Buhari for actualising it, thus repealing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act which has been in existence since 2004.
“Of particular note she said, is the concern for the vulnerable and creation of the Vulnerable Group Fund that will ensure that over eighty-three million Nigerians who cannot afford to pay health insurance premiums are catered for.
“The new National Health Insurance Authority will collaborate with state governments to accredit primary and secondary healthcare facilities as well as ensure the enrollment of Nigerians.
“The NSCC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency on achieving Integrated Care for Older Persons, mainstreaming Geriatric Care and Geriatric Home Help into the Primary care system in Nigeria.
“This is an outcome of a two-day national workshop on Integrated Care for Older Persons organised by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA)in collaboration with NSCC, with support from the WHO,” he said.
