Staff of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have condemned the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) saying it has not been implemented as it should be.

 

Speaking during an interactive session between the staff of the commission and Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) recently at the commission’s headquarters, they complained they do not get adequate attention from the hospitals.

 

Mrs Oti Joy, a staff of the National Human Rights Commission said when she visited her hospital, she was made to pay for the treatment she was given even though she registered with the hospital under the NHIS policy.

 

Mike Onum said when he was diagnosed with diabetes, he was told by the hospital that the illness wasn’t covered by the NHIS policy.

 

Mrs Uju Okoro is a business woman who doesn’t have access to the policy but calls on the HMOs and NHIS to have enlightenment programmes and seminars to enlighten other Nigerians who are not workers of any organisations on how they can benefit from the policy.

 

Mr Ozumba Kalu, a civil servant had a leg surgery but he told Daily Trust Health Desk that most of the important drugs that could aid proper healing of his legs were not covered by the NHIS policy so he had to raise money to pay for those drugs.

 

On her part, Mrs Nonyem Adefemi also a civil servant called for sanctions on the NHIS. She said,“I have been registered as a beneficiary of the NHIS policy for over two years now but I haven’t gotten an identity card which I can present to the hospital to enable me receive treatment. Yet my money is being deducted. I don’t know where these monies are taken to and what they are used for.”

 

 

Reacting to several petitions brought before the National Human Rights Commission, the Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe said the aim for the establishment of the NHIS policy is to ensure that all Nigerians get quality health care but “lots of Nigerians don’t have access to quality health care yet.”

 

He said the commission is shocked that the service is rendered to civil servants alone and it has not even been beneficial to those in the states and Nigerians who are not workers.

 

He said it was against the right of the citizens not to properly benefit from government policies “because the policy was clear that the health care facility was for all Nigerians but unfortunately, even those who are beneficiaries don’t get access to certain drugs and certain treatment.”

 

Angwe recommended that the federal government should review the NHIS policy and ensure the health care facility is beneficial to all Nigerians.

 

He said the commission would visit the NHIS office to enquire about the various complaints received by the commission and brainstorm on how to solve the challenges.

 

Chief Executive Officer, United Healthcare HMO, Dr. Kolawole Owoka told the staff that the health care policy of NHIS covers all treatment and drugs hence whenever any staff goes to the hospital, they should stand their grounds until they receive satisfactory health care service.

 

All efforts to reach the NHIS boss for his reaction proved abortive before press time.

 

By Maureen Onochie

Daily Trust