The committee, among other things, was asked to put in place modalities for the establishment of hospital capital improvement fund. The committee also looked at the feasibility of a practicable interest rate.

“It critically examined when the program is feasible and practicable at an interest rate that is fair to all the health seekers, as government was looking into investing and injecting funds into the scheme to meet the needs of Nigerians on universal healthcare coverage,” he said.

Sambo said that government was committed to the provision of low-interest loans to assist Nigerians access health at an affordable rate and that the government was interested in finding alternative ways to fund the NHIS so as to make access to healthcare inclusive.He said the Federal Government would provide the loans, while the disbursement to intended healthcare seekers would be carried out by banks after scaling the pre-qualify criteria.

Source: Punch Online Oct 23, 2013