NHIS is realigning for greater impact – Thomas

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas, has assured that the Scheme is presently going through a major transformational phase, in its bid to achieve its statutory mandate of ensuring that Nigerians enjoy easy access to effective healthcare.

A press release by the Head, Media and Public Relation Officer of NHIS, Ayo Osinlu, quoted the Executive Secretary as saying the transformation includes the on-going   restructuring and creation of more Departments in the scheme, to strengthen it for more efficient discharge of its duties.

Dr. Thomas who made the statement during a recent advocacy visit to the governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the government House, Akure, also said the recent passage of the National Health Bill by the Senate, and the processes of amending the Act establishing the NHIS currently going on in the House of Representatives, will increase the capacity of the organization to be more effective and responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians.
The NHIS boss commended Ondo state government, for investing 350 million Naira as its counterpart funding for the NHIS/MDG/MCH programme that was launched in the State in 2010, adding that the Programme has benefited over 900,000 Nigerians in Ondo state within the few years of its operation.

Dr. Thomas however advised that the various intervention programmes within the State health sector be pulled together, to start a health Insurance programme for the citizens of the state, while assuring the state government that the Scheme will be ready to provide technical assistance for the development of a health Insurance Programme by the government of the state.

In his response, the executive governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, noted that there must be equity in the distribution of health resources between the vulnerable and those who can pay for health services in the country.

He called on stakeholders of NHIS to focus on very creative ways of reducing administrative cost in health services, thereby increasing the quantum of fund that will be available for the various health packages to enrolees.
Governor Mimiko further added that the greatest legacy which the present management of NHIS could leave for posterity will be a significant percentage of Nigerians that will be ready to pay premium so as to have health Insurance cover, as this will provide the platform for the sustainability of the various health insurance programmes in the face of dwindling government funding.