'Mandatory NHIS law will improve health care'
(AllAfrica.com) - The acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo, has made a case for the amendment of the health insurance scheme law to make it mandatory for all Nigerians to register with the scheme.
He said the policy would improve health indices of Nigerians and encourage the health sector to provide qualitative care.
The NHIS boss, who made this known during the review of an awareness program titled 'Beta Body' for community health insurance, said most developed countries that have viable health sector, credit their success to a workable and mandatory health insurance for its citizens.
According to him some sections of the bill must be amended to cater for the current health issues.
Sambo observed that while it is important for government to provide the enabling environment for effective implementation of the scheme, government alone cannot achieve the objectives of the scheme.
He said, "Unless the NHIS law is amended, making health insurance compulsory, we will find it difficult to implement the program, as it will not be feasible.
"We feel that before that amendment, we have to get people to understand the importance of health insurance, it is then we can thoroughly address healthcare services."
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Media and Marketing Communications Company (MMCC), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the programme was geared towards educating and enlightening Nigerians on community health insurance.
'Beta Body' is a television and radio programme initiative by the MMCC group in conjunction with NHIS towards creating awareness among rural dwellers.