Posted on: Mon 26-09-2016

THE Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria and the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria say there is a need to institutionalise best practices in the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The HMCAN and HCPAN harped on the need for all the stakeholders in the NHIS to play their roles as stipulated by the "substantive Act 35 of 1999 without changing the rules midstream." The two bodies made this call during a joint retreat they had in Lagos on Friday.

The retreat, which held at the Conference Hall of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was with the  theme, "Making Health Insurance Work Better in Nigeria and Achieving Universal Health Coverage." According to the communiqué issued at the end of the retreat and made available to our correspondent, the HMCAN and HCPAN observed that as every country around the world aspired to achieve the Universal Health Coverage, Nigeria should not be an exception.

To this end, they declared their commitment to the ideals of the UHC, which they said, included access to quality and affordable healthcare services, equity and financial protection for all Nigerians. They declared their readiness to work with 

the Federal Government towards the achievement of the UHC in the country. "We call on the NHIS to immediately resuscitate the tripartite and quadruplet committee meetings between all health insurance stakeholders, consisting HMOS, healthcare providers, NECA and enrollees," the communiqué jointly signed by the HMCAN Chairman, Dr. Kolawole Owoka, and HCPAN President, Umar Sands, stated. The two bodies promised to unite to pursue a legislative mandate for compulsory health insurance for all citizens and to eliminate unethical or unprofessional practices among their members. 

By:Ramon Oladimeji 

The Punch News

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