House To Investigate Mismanagement Of Funds By NHIS

By Oduyemi Odumade

The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on healthcare services to investigate alleged mismanagement of funds and other irregularities in the National Health Insurance Authority.

This was sequel to a motion by a member from Edo State, Mr Esosa Iyawe at plenary.

Mr Iyawe stated that the Federal Government has, over the years, driven the Health Insurance Policy through budgetary allocation under the management of the National Health Insurance Authority and some Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).

He said the HMOs were engaged and funded by the Federal Government to play an intermediary role in the implementation of the health insurance scheme by providing a wide range of medical services for enrollees.

The Lawmaker however, expressed concern that despite the huge budgetary allocations, records have shown that only a negligible 3% of persons in the formal sector have access to health insurance, leaving over 170 million Nigerians without Health Insurance.

“The programme has been fraught with poor service delivery by the HMOs as well as low-quality services on the part of the healthcare service providers, as evidenced by the high level of dissatisfaction amongst enrollees who are thus discouraged from recommending the scheme to potential subscribers.

“The house is disturbed by reports that in some hospitals, the pharmacy for patients covered by the NHIS is separate from the hospital’s main pharmacy, and allegedly stocked with low-quality drugs, as against the main pharmacy”.

According to him, there were reports that funds allocated for implementation of the national health insurance policy are being mismanaged, as well as allegations that some HMOs fail to remit funds or pay monthly capitations to the healthcare providers.

Iyawe added that 25 years after the programme commenced, reports have shown that, out of a population of about 200 million, only about four million Nigerians are covered under the scheme, which is contrary to the claim by the Authority that over 10 million Nigerians are currently enrolled in the programme.

Edited By Grace Namiji