Health insurance now mandatory as Buhari signs new law

Health Insurance will now be mandatory in the country, following the signing into law of the National Health Insurance Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, House of Representatives, Umar El-Yakub disclosed this yesterday in Abuja.

He said the law will ensure an effective implementation of a national health insurance policy that ensures the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.

The statement said “today, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR assented to the National Health Insurance Bill, 2022 recently passed by the National Assembly. This Act makes health insurance mandatory in Nigeria.

Indeed this is a milestone legislation and legacy achievement for his administration

“This Act repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap. N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enacts the National Health Insurance Authority Act, to ensure an effective implementation of a national health insurance policy that ensures the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.

“Essentially, this Act will promote, integrate, regulate all health insurance schemes in Nigeria, devise a mechanism for ensuring provision of basic health care needs to the indigents and accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Care Coverage for all Nigerians, in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals.

“Nigerians, irrespective of socio-economic status will now have easy financial access to quality healthcare which will go a long way in reducing the high burden of morbidity and mortality in the Country.”