Less than 5% of Nigerians covered by NHIS, says Official. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has commenced the re-accreditation of 57 Health Management Organisations (HMOs) to boost healthcare delivery in the country. Dr Victor Amadi, the General Manager Standard and Quality Assurance, NHIS, made this known while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.The suspension was pending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation of the scheme by the lower chamber of the National Assembly. However, Amadi said the scheme had received the approval of the Federal Ministry of Health to conduct the re-accreditation of the 57 HMOs with expired licenses. He said there would be a service failure by the scheme in delivering healthcare to its enrollees who have contributed to the scheme if re-accreditation of principal programme managers such as the HMOs was not done.
Dr Idiat Anibulowo, the General Manager, Informal Sector, NHIS, while speaking on enforcement and maintenance of quality standard by health facilities, expressed determination of the scheme to enforce quality standard in hospitals across the country. She said the scheme was ensuring that NHIS works for all Nigerians and enrollees enjoy quality health services in the hospitals. “The agency has deployed members of staff to high risk hospitals where we receive regular complaints to ensure compliance with the required standards.
The staff members would ensure that enrollees are well treated and that their rights are not trampled upon,’’ Anibulowo said. She said the scheme in the past has had course to delist and sanction some HMOs and health facilities in the FCT, Zaria in Kaduna state, Ilorin and other places who failed to abide by the standard of the scheme.
The general manager further urged enrollees to give feedback to the agency on the challenges they experience while receiving services in any facility under the scheme.
She added that the feedback from the enrollees would assist the agency in ensuring that high quality and standard was maintained by health facilities across the country.
Source:Premiumtimes