‘How mandatory health insurance will help Nigerians’

Public health physicians under the aegis of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) have called on government to make health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. National Chairman of the association, Prof. Tanimola Akande made the call during the National Scientific Conference and general meeting of the association in Abuja. He said with […]

Public health physicians under the aegis of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) have called on government to make health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.
National Chairman of the association, Prof. Tanimola Akande made the call during the National Scientific Conference and general meeting of the association in Abuja.
He said with mandatory health insurance, Nigerians do not need to carry a lot of money, when going to the hospital , nor pay a lot of money to access treatment.
The association’s secretary, FCT chapter, Dr Uche Ewelike said cross subsidy for the poor will also assist in achieving the mandatory health insurance.
Cross subsidization is the practice of charging higher prices to one group of consumers, for instance the rich in order to subsidize lower prices for another group such as the poor.
He said all categories of persons including retirees will be able to access and afford health care through mandatory health insurance.
Declaring the conference open, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the theme of the conference “Universal Health Coverage: The way forward in attaining SDGs in Nigeria” was also the theme of the National council of health meeting held recently in Sokoto State.
Represented by Dr Evelyn Ngige, he said primary healthcare is the area of priority of this administration because of the many problems inherent there. 
Country representative, Management Sciences for Health, and chairperson local organizing committee of the conference , Dr Zipporah  Kpamor  said public health physicians need to come up with innovative ideas  that will ensure that Nigerians have access to healthcare that they can afford,  adding that Universal Health Coverage  will help the country  not to miss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).