The President stated this Abuja Monday at the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria held at the State House.

The President who was represented by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo said that Nigeria being a member of the United Nations Organisation is determined to achieve Universal Health Coverage 30% by end of 2015.

He said that Nigeria is leaving no stone unturned to making sure that it keeps abreast with other countries especially in the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Scheme.

He opined that Universal Health Coverage is a collective responsibility adding that Federal, State and Local Governments and other organised private sector must work together to develop the platform needed to achieve universal health coverage.

He said that his administration has invested heavily in strengthening human capacity in the health sector to provide quality health care to the people.

He frowned at the level of capital flight and medical tourism which is a setback to Nigeria’s economy which he said should be urgently addressed.

He added that Universal Health Coverage is a collective c challenge. He said: “We owe it to the people who don’t have the means to provide for themselves because of our limited resources”.

He maintained that health remains on the top priory list of his administration stressing that addressing shortage of human resources for health is a sure way of leading the country  to the wider universal health coverage.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu said that the Summit reaffirmed Government’s resolve to find solutions to our health system challenges as well as invest strategically to improve equitable access to health care at all levels.

He said that it is line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President and the General Assembly’s resolution on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in December 2012.

He noted that Universal health coverage will ensure as a country, we make the right investments in human development that will enable Nigeria reaps the democratic dividends and usher in a period of economic growth.

Prof.Chukwu said that Government recognizes the central role of political will and commitment at all levels in achieving Universal Health Coverage adding that the health care systems in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the 774 LGAs have been at the frontline of healthcare delivery and are therefore critical to achieving universal health coverage.

He explained that Universal Health Coverage is defined by the World Health Report (WHR) 2010 as a target in which “all people have access to health services and do not suffer financial hardship for them.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr.Femi Thomas has said that about N1.3 trillion will be required to fund the Universal Health Coverage.

Consensus was reached at the Summit that Government should work with all stakeholders to make health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

It was also resolved that financial access is possible if Health Insurance is made compulsory and treated as the right of all citizens.